Today, I am going to show you how to become a cognitive chameleon, able to think multiple concepts simultaneously, switch between tasks and modes smoothly, and adjust your strategies and course of action seamlessly.

Doing so will allow you to adapt to shifting realities smoothly, and given the unprecedented pace of change today, that's a vital cognitive skill..

Unfortunately, most people suffer from rigid thinking and struggle to adjust and adapt, leading to frustration and ultimately failure.

Their mindset is fixed and static. They are often fixated on obsolete things that no longer work amid changing circumstances and chaos.

The more resistant they are to change, the more intense the struggle, and the poorer the results of their problem-solving and decision-making.

The conventional way of thinking, solving problems and making decisions is outdated, just like a software programme that has not been updated for decades. That's the scale of the problem.

Being rigid in your thinking, inflexible, cumbersome, and afraid of change and adapting to it is a surefire way to struggle even more, isolate yourself, and get stuck—for good.

We live in the Age of Adaptation, and despite the colossal changes that have taken place in our world, society and technology since Charles Darwin framed his Theory of Evolution, his ideas are more relevant than ever.

He famously said it's not the strongest or most intelligent species that survives (and thrives) but the most adaptable to change.

He also noted that adaptation happens through competition, where species adjust to their surroundings based on the challenges they face.

Not a word in his theory is wrong or outdated. Here's why:

1. Wealth or intelligence won't get you far if you are not mentally flexible and adaptable.

2. You won't become mentally flexible and adaptable if you avoid discomfort and challenges.

3. On the contrary, you must expose yourself to challenges because it's through this "competition" that you flex your mental muscles, adapt and evolve.

The Paradox of Stability in Chaos

According to the Chaos Theory, most complex systems are naturally unpredictable yet still have underlying structures that create order. Even when things seem entirely random and chaotic, there are deeper or hidden patterns that provide consistency.

In the same way, the human brain seeks stability amid chaos. The paradox is that the more uncertain the environment (like in times of constant change, crises, and conflicts), the stronger the human desire for predictability and stability.

Our psychological response to chaos can be seen as a reflection of the larger concept in Chaos Theory. Chaos and stability coexist, whether in nature or human behaviour.

Seeking stability through routines, tradition, or strong leadership is natural. However, that should not deter you from flexing your mental muscles.

Stability and predictability (along with the sense of safety they bring) are about survival, while flexibility and adaptability are about evolution.

There's a very tight cause-and-effect relationship here.

• If you focus on stability and play safe, you will survive, and that's about it. Relying too much on routines and tradition (often obsolete conventional wisdom) gets you stuck in survival or autopilot mode.

• If you become mentally flexible and learn to adapt, you will survive and thrive, even in the most changing and dynamic environments or times.

Cognitive flexibility becomes increasingly relevant and essential as life, work, and business become more complex and chaotic.

It's a true superpower that allows you to:

• Navigate uncertainty and conflicting information with ease

• Break free from "best practices" (that sustain a dysfunctional or obsolete life or work mode)

• Build mental resilience (so that you recover quickly and bounce forward)

• Spot opportunities amid chaos

The Mindset of a Chameleon

A chameleon has the remarkable ability to adjust to its surroundings by changing colours almost instantly. This incredible biological trait allowed this species to survive and thrive through the eons.

In the same way, the human species managed to survive and thrive on the planet by adjusting to the changing environment, although not by changing colour until today.

As modern humans, we have almost lost our flexibility and adaptability because everything has become super easy. However, the ability to adjust and adapt quickly to shifting realities is a vital skill, without which people stagnate and fail to grow.

Beyond color changes, chameleons are also highly observant creatures. They use their surroundings to detect threats or opportunities before taking action.

These are all traits and skills that constitute the Mindset of a Chameleon.

The Art of Perspective-Shifting

Being mentally flexible does not only mean adapting to new information. It's also about having a broad perspective and seeing things from different angles. It's like having a toolkit with various lenses and filters. Each time, based on the situation and context, you put on a different lens or filter and shift your perspective accordingly.

Perspective-shifting is a powerful tool that can transform how you experience the world around you, including your relationships with other people. Here's how it works.

Imagine discussing your Friday night plans with your bestie. You prefer a quiet night in, while your friend opts for a night out. By stepping into each other's shoes, you can shift perspectives and agree on a dual plan that starts with an early drink out and finishes with a cosy movie night at home.

As a solopreneur, you may struggle with pricing your services. You believe you can't attract new clients at this pricing point. Instead of lowering prices (that's the impulsive reaction), you can shift perspective, step into their mindset, and investigate why they don't buy from you. Is it because of high prices? Or is it because of perceived value? If you provide more value at the same price point and make your offering crystal clear, you may manage to fuel your lead generation and new client acquisition engine.

Embracing Ambiguity

Chameleons don't mind being in threatening environments. They camouflage themselves to avoid danger. In the same way, you must learn to embrace uncertainty. Hiding is not a solution in 99% of the cases. Being out in the "wild", observing the situation and embracing ambiguity can help you boost your flexibility. The more you expose yourself to ambiguity and uncertainty, the more familiar you become, and the less they scare you anymore. They are a catalyst for growth, not something to avoid. It's uncomfortable initially, but the more you put yourself out there, the better.

Imagine spending years in a stable job but feeling unfulfilled. You want to change jobs, even careers, but there's no step-by-step guide. Instead of dreading the unknown, embrace it. Reframe the situation and see ambiguity as an opportunity to explore with curiosity. You can explore different possibilities, experiment with various jobs and industries, start a side project around your passion or interests, and network with others to get ideas. Instead of resisting uncertainty, you can embrace it and be curious. Trust me, you will find many unexpected doors opening.

As a solopreneur, you may launch a new service or online product, but you are not 100% sure the market is ready. Instead of postponing the launch until you gather more information and refine your product (that's usually perfectionism taking over), you can lean into ambiguity. You can launch it as a test, gather feedback, and refine it on the go. If that still doesn't work, you can repeat the process. Uncertainty is a perfect testing ground. You have nothing to lose, only new things to learn and grow.

Mindfulness and Self-Awareness

I have to repeat this: rigid thinking is one of the root causes of stagnation and autopilot mode. If you want to survive and thrive, you need to let go. You must build self-awareness to help you identify your thinking patterns, biases, false assumptions, and beliefs that hold you back. If you know what keeps you back, you can take action to reverse it. Mindfulness is the perfect tool for working on your self-awareness. It helps you get grounded, be in the present moment (not ruminating about past events or failures or future tripping), set the right intentions, and treat yourself kindly without beating yourself up for every mistake or failure. This new mental state can allow for more flexible thinking.

For example, if you fail a presentation because you are very anxious, your immediate response is to start thinking, "I am a failure," and "I am not cut out for it." That's rigid thinking. You turn emotions and thoughts into facts and then stick to them like they are set in stone. Through mindfulness, you can pause, observe your thoughts, and ask yourself, "Are they facts or just thoughts?". You learn not to immediately accept them as the truth but challenge them with kindness and curiosity. You recognise the negative self-talk patterns and consciously shift to a more positive, growth-oriented mindset: "This is just another setback. I will do better next time if I prepare more and work on my anxiety". You take your future into your own hands, instead of outsourcing it to your negative self-talk.

Here's another example many solopreneurs resonate with. You launch a new service or product and expect immediate success. If it doesn't sell well right from the beginning, you believe it's crap and you must kill it. That's rigid thinking, usually manifesting with "If X happens, I do Y" patterns. It's black or white, nothing in between. With mindfulness, you learn to be patient and curious. You open your mind and become more creative with "What if…" ideas. What if the product didn't sell because of a high price or lack of marketing? Perhaps, there's nothing wrong with it per se, and you can simply tweak your promotion and selling process to see what happens.

Mindfulness is not about yoga and meditation—that's a very shallow approach. Mindfulness is about understanding, with kindness and curiosity, how your mind works, what your rigid thought patterns are, and how you can gracefully shift from strictness and fear to more adaptable problem-solving.

The Neuroscience of Adaptation

A little bit of science now to help you understand how vital mental flexibility is for all areas of your life: relationships with people, work, doing business, everything.

The more you expose yourself to new experiences and challenges, the more your brain rewires. That's what they call "brain plasticity". It's the brain's ability to change and adapt by forming new neural connections.

Imagine your brain is a big playground. When you learn something new, have a novel experience, or solve a problem, your brain builds little paths, like trails in a park. The more you practice, the stronger those trails get (i.e. it gets easier for you to remember and do things faster). If something doesn't go right the first time, your brain is creative enough to build new paths or even a small bridge.

It's the same when learning a new language or approaching a new challenge at work for the first time (instead of avoiding it). At first, it's messy, and you may get things wrong. Mistakes may happen, but with practice and iterations, your brain adapts, creates new neural pathways, and reshapes to support your new skills.

That's brain plasticity in action.

Here's more magic your brain can do. Let's say you face a significant life change, like losing your job, a loved one, relocating to a new country, or failing with your business. Your brain may initially resist uncertainty. Uncertainty is never easy or pleasant; resisting it is a natural human reaction. With time, your brain finds new ways to cope because resistance is tiring and consumes mental energy. You become more flexible and creative, and with time, you become more resilient. Resilience is one of the positive side effects of cognitive flexibility. After so many new experiences, learning, challenges, and problem-solving, your brain knows everything will be okay and lets you peacefully go about your life and move forward despite change and adversity.

One last thing. Emotions. Their role in building mental flexibility is crucial. If you let them take over, you struggle more, and your thinking becomes more rigid. You need to learn how to regulate them and not allow them to take ownership of your life, work and business. Emotional regulation is not ignoring or discarding your emotions. It's about recognising and accepting them for what they are. They are mere responses to feelings and stimuli. Once you understand this, you will feel enlightened.

Here is how it works. When exposed to external stimuli, your senses experience those stimuli and create emotions. They come first, as the brain's immediate, unconscious reactions to stimuli (like fear when you hear a loud noise). Feelings develop afterwards. It's how you interpret those emotions, based on past experiences, thoughts, and context. Think of emotions as the raw signal and feelings as the meaning we assign to them.

The more you regulate this system, the less influence it has over your rational thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Emotions and feelings are not facts; they are how you perceive the world and attach meaning to what you experience.

Remember this:

• Negative emotions narrow your thinking and limit your mental flexibility

• Positive emotions expand your thinking and help you become more flexible and creative

• Being mindful of emotions allows you to recognise when they cloud your judgment and lead to rigid thinking

3 Strategies for Becoming a Cognitive Chameleon

The underlying principle is constantly exposing yourself to new situations, experiences, and challenges, to "force" your brain to find solutions and workarounds, flexing its mental muscles.

Here are 3 proven ways to help you do it effectively.

1. Disrupt your routine.

Having a routine feels comfortable, easygoing and safe. That's okay. However, you must find ways to disrupt your routines by exposing yourself to new settings, environments, and contexts to train your flexibility. Otherwise, your mental pathways remain the same, and your brain has no reason to build new neural paths. It needs stimuli to do that. It can be as simple as taking a different route going back home or switching up your morning ritual (for example, waking up earlier, drinking a cup of tea first, taking a shower, and then eating breakfast). You can apply that to your work, too. Instead of starting your workday by checking your email, journal and plan your day.

You may also try more radical things. As a child, I was curious to see if and how I could write with my left hand. It was fun and mind-bending. You may alter your social patterns, for example, by introducing variety to your nights out instead of going out with the same people to the same places at the same time every Friday or Saturday night.

As a solopreneur, you may try changing your work processes. Instead of tackling tasks from your list in your usual order (the most urgent first), shake that up by tackling the most critical tasks first. If you start the day by delivering service to your clients, try starting with content creation.

Simple or more profound shifts force your brain to adjust, keeping it sharp and flexible.

2. Engage in diverse learning.

Diverse learning is about learning something completely new outside your current portfolio of interests or hobbies. I started learning piano at 44. I had never played the piano before (only as a curious child when visiting the church with my mom). It shook me to my core because it was something brand new. An entirely different mindset and approach. At first, I was clueless and helpless (hopeless, too) because I didn't know how to approach it, I couldn't read the scripts and notes, my fingers could not sync on the piano, and it was a hot mess. I almost quit, but I knew it was a mental challenge that forced my mind to try things it had never tried before. With time, practice, and patience, I improve, and my teacher now tells me my learning and performance accelerate.

The same goes for learning new languages. As a vivid language lover, I found myself learning three languages at some point (Danish was my main hobby, plus Norwegian because they are too close to Danish, and I also started learning Finnish). The latter was another conscious choice because it's a completely different language, from an entirely different language family, which has nothing to do with how we write or speak the Indo-European languages. That also forced my brain to start anew and find new ways of tackling the learning process.

Diverse learning can be anything like

• learning new languages

• trying different forms of art (playing music, painting, sculpting, you name it)

• playing board games with different rules, that require different strategies

• exploring new subjects outside your field (as a young employee, I started learning HTML and web design, which had nothing to do with my business and marketing background and job)

• exploring books, articles, and podcasts outside your usual action zone (different authors or presenters with very diverse perspectives and styles)

• trying new physical skills (e.g. sports, yoga, etc.) or hobbies (gardening, DIY, knitting, you name it)

3. Embrace failure as feedback.

Failure is a recurring pattern when talking about self-development and growth. That's the reality. Failure is an integral part of life, work, and business. The more you fail, the better. The more frequently you fail, the better. The more diverse your failures, the better. That's how you adapt, grow, and become resilient.

Here are a few examples, but try your own failures. Just keep the basic concepts in mind.

• Cooking a new dish. You may fail the first two or three times until you grasp the recipe, choose the right ingredients, and master the technique. Instead of believing you are bad at cooking, analyse what went wrong each time, learn from it, and try again until you nail it. This iterative process forces your brain to adapt rather than shut down in the face of setbacks.

• Experimenting with a new business idea. You launch a new coaching service or an online course, but it doesn't sell well. Instead of giving up, you gather feedback (from customers and people who didn't buy), analyse the weak points, tweak the service or course, and improve your marketing and sales process. With a few iterations (and failures), you can finally find the right product-market fit.

• Public speaking. I still remember the first time I ran company-wide presentations in front of large audiences. I messed up. My mouth was dry, I sweated a lot, lost my words, and gasped for air. The first learning was that most people noticed that, but quickly went on with their lives and work. It was I who struggled mentally that much. Second, after analysing what went wrong each time, I adapted and improved, becoming a pro presenter after a few years of practice. I could have quit, said that "I am not cut out for presentations and public speaking", or denied any future opportunities or invitations for public speaking altogether. Instead, I endured the discomfort, and my brain found ways to tackle all the issues, one by one, building flexibility and confidence.

• Writing content or even a book. The first drafts are always crap, or at least messy. The more you work on the material, the more you improve it. The more you analyse what is wrong (the words, the structure, or the flow), the more new ways and approaches your brain finds to improve them in the next iteration. That's how you improve your writing style, the value you articulate, and the positioning of your writing.

• Fitness or weight loss. A former colleague wanted to run her first marathon at 50. He started training for it, and, although hard, she persevered and improved her fitness incredibly over a few months. In her first attempt to run a marathon, she failed and didn't finish. The second time, too. Instead of quitting, she analysed why she couldn't finish the race, worked on those aspects (endurance, breathing), and nailed it in her third attempt. Instead of convincing herself that "I am not a runner", she saw her two failed marathons not as an endpoint, but as a stepping stone to building resilience and flexibility.

Striking the balance

Before wrapping up, let me highlight this: Flexibility is good. However, it has to be balanced—as the Swedes would say, "lagom." Not too little, not too much, just the right amount.

Mental flexibility is a key meta-skill, vital for navigating, surviving, and thriving in an ever-changing world. But too much flexibility is not good either.

Excessive flexibility can lead to overthinking, paralysis by analysis, a lack of focus, priorities, and action. Training your mental muscles to be flexible is meant to give you an edge, not plunge you into a lack of commitment, indecision and inaction.

Here are three checkpoints to help you avoid that.

• Build self-awareness so that you can recognise when excessive flexibility hits you.

• Set clear, overarching goals that stay top of mind at all times and guide you to healthy flexibility and action.

• Limit your options to avoid the hassle of evaluating and choosing from a plethora of alternative courses of action and solutions.

Wrapping up

So, here’s the real question: Are you ready to become a cognitive chameleon, or will you cling to the comfort of your old, rigid patterns?

The world isn’t waiting for anyone to catch up. It’s changing—faster, messier, and more unpredictable than ever. The only way to survive and truly thrive is to embrace mental flexibility as your new superpower.

Imagine what you could achieve if you stopped fearing discomfort and started seeing every challenge as a chance to grow, adapt, and evolve. What opportunities are you missing because you’re stuck in autopilot mode? What relationships, ideas, or breakthroughs are just out of reach because you’re unwilling to shift your perspective or step into the unknown?

The benefits are real: more creativity, resilience, and the ability to spot opportunities where others see only chaos.

Isn’t it time to disrupt your routines, challenge your assumptions, and train your mind to dance with uncertainty? The choice is yours—will you stay static, or will you become the chameleon who not only survives, but thrives in any environment?

What’s next?

It’s all about mindset and strategy. As ancient Greek and Roman philosophers taught, we can only control our minds, thoughts, and actions. Focusing on this can help you avoid unnecessary struggle, get unstuck, and move forward faster.

If you need guidance getting unstuck and making crucial mindset shifts, I can help, especially if

• you want to quit your 9-5 job and create your one-person business, but you struggle to pivot (and then regret not making the leap)

• you are a currently struggling introverted solopreneur (stuck in failure, regret and a flawed mindset that doesn’t serve you)

DM me on LinkedIn, and let’s explore how Mindset Coaching can help you move forward and claim what you desire and deserve for a life and work with purpose, meaning and enjoyment.