Flexible and steadfast

Have you ever been on the top floor of a skyscraper when a strong wind is blowing? It can be disconcerting because when the wind blows, the building will sway. It’s perfectly normal, though, and really no cause for alarm. Tall buildings are designed to do that. A completely rigid structure would be knocked over by the force of the wind. A little bit of sway enables the building to reliably stand even when the winds are strong.

At some point, though, the flexibility must stop. In a tall building, that place is the building’s foundation. As important as it is for the upper part of the building to sway with the wind so that the building remains intact, it is just as important that the foundation be solidly fixed in one spot. Otherwise the building would start to lean over like that tower in Pisa, Italy.

In living your life, it is important to be flexible. Conditions change from moment to moment. The more adaptable you are, the better off you’ll be. There’s great opportunity for achievement in being able to quickly and appropriately change in response to the onslaught of unpredictable events. Yet at some point in the process of achievement, flexibility must give way to steadfastness.

In order for all your options and choices to have value, they must be connected to a steadfast purpose. Otherwise, you’re creating a lot of activity but not really going in any particular direction. At certain key points, it is vital to make a choice and then to stick with that choice. Otherwise, all the great possibilities are really of no use. Without a solid, steadfast foundation in the form of meaningful commitment, there’s nothing upon which to build value.

In a life of accomplishment and fulfillment, flexibility and steadfastness do not compete with each other. They complement each other and support each other. Resolute life values and meaningful commitments provide a rock solid foundation upon which to build, and flexibility enables you to make the most of whatever life brings your way.