The advances in technology are contributing to the world evolving and changing at a very fast rate. Given the pace of change, it’s important that we are agile and maintain a flexible approach to life. When we are flexible, it’s possible for us to cope and adjust to changing circumstances more easily.

It also means that we are more open minded in our attitude to situations and willing to try new and alternative approaches to overcome obstacles. This keeps our outlook fresh and prevents our thinking from becoming stale. As a result we start to figure out and create solutions and react more swiftly to problems and challenges.

Society encourages us to be tough minded and to have conviction in our opinions. It is a good thing to have mental resilience. However, it’s also a positive quality to see and consider other points of view and adjust your stance if necessary. It maybe that in the past you have had feedback that to bend and change your opinion is a sign of weakness. However I believe the opposite to be true.

For me, those people that are willing to listen to other people’s points of views and when appropriate adjust their opinion, have good emotional intelligence. They are more likely to be able to influence others. It actually takes mental strength to change your opinion and to admit that others may be right and have better ideas. It requires a sense of inner calm and feeling of security.

Being too rigid and uptight doesn’t make it easy to develop relationships and contributes to feelings of tension and stress. As Lao-Tzu said “A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind. The hard and stiff will be broken; the soft and supple will prevail.”

Being flexible helps deepen and develop relationships. It means that people will respect and trust you. It helps you to develop a reputation for acting with integrity. Your ability to do the right thing will shine through.

I have coached many people over the past 16 years who when they got busy, under pressure and stressed became very single minded and inflexible in their approach to the pursuit of goals.

They stuck rigidly to their ideas and plans and failed to consider other viewpoints and alternative approaches. This had a detrimental impact on their relationships with others. It meant they lost perspective and became very tunnelled in their vision.

Below is a story about the importance of being flexible and a reminder of the consequences of being too rigid in our thinking.

On a dark and foggy night in the midst of a stormy sea, the captain of a ship spotted what seemed to be the light from another ship in the distance. He quickly went to his station and flashed a message across the water, “Change your course twenty degrees north.”

No sooner had he done this than a reply flashed back, “Change your course twenty degrees south.”

The captain became angry and flashed back, “I am captain and a commander in the naval forces, and I say change your course twenty degrees north.”

The responding message was signaled back, “I am a seaman first class with no commander, and I say change your course twenty degrees south.”

This infuriated the captain who now signaled, “I am a battleship, and I say change your course twenty degrees north.”

There was a brief pause as the angry captain awaited the reply. Finally, the response came, “I say change your course twenty degrees south, I am a lighthouse!”

Some people can find it extremely challenging to show their vulnerability, admit that they may not be right or have all the answers. I believe it takes courage to admit this to be the case and to be willing to change direction. Being flexible is a conscious choice and is a valuable skill in today’s fast paced world.

It is possible to be firm in our dedication to our convictions and beliefs, clear about our intentions but be flexible enough to make changes and consider new ideas. I would encourage being flexible in life as I believe it to lead to greater inner peace, joy and fulfillment.

This week why not take a few moments out to pause and reflect. Consider where you need to show more flexibility in your life and what the benefits to you would be if you were to do so.

This week’s quotation:

“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Tony Robbins.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk