The Physics Of Flexibility

A great quality to have in life is an ability to be flexible. While it is generally healthy to be physically flexible, what I’m talking about is to be flexible within your day. High performers are really good at making the most of whatever they’ve got to work with. They find a way to win within unfamiliar, uncertain, and unpredicted circumstances.

Ultimately, flexibility is the perfect combination of structure and freedom. If things are too structured, then either it’s resistant to variation or breaks under stress. If things are too free, then they don’t take shape in such a way that can hold anything significant. Flexibility maintains the best of both - it’s not too rigid and not too loose.

One of the hallmark characteristics of flexibility is that it has a baseline structure to it. When under normal, non-straining conditions, it rests in a comfortable state. When it is under strain, it temporarily compromises its shape to accommodate the demand but then returns it’s preferred state when normal conditions are reestablished.

That’s exactly what happens when you have flexibility in a day. You have your schedule that you follow with discipline, but then as things come up you can effectively move things around to prioritize what’s urgent without deprioritizing other major commitments. Flexibility in your spending finds that perfect contrast between having sound principles and making reasonable exceptions to the rules when the setting calls for it. Flexibility in your diet helps you to find the healthy option when eating out with friends without being overbearing about your dietary restrictions.

Maximizing your flexibility requires two things: That you implement solid structure in your life to create meaningful restriction, and that you keep an open-mind so that you’re not attached to things being exactly a certain way, and you can creatively navigate what life throws at you.

And over time, as you get feedback, understand your tolerance, and become clearer on what you want, your flexibility forms into the amount that is right for you.