Flexibility and Yielding Are Essential Aspects of Life — Stiffness and Resistance Lead to Decay and Death
When we yield to what appears to be blocking our way, we will find a way through.
“Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow.
Whatever is rigid and blocked will atrophy and die.”
— John Heider, “The Tao of Leadership.”
The virtue of yielding flexibility is a core insight and virtue found in the wisdom of Tao Te Ching.
Metaphorically, it is often represented as the bamboo tree that is flexible enough to bend almost horizontally and avoid breaking in gale-force winds. Similarly, if we allow ourselves to flow with life, our growth is one of ease — of yielding flexibility.
Like water cascading around the rocks and tree branches in a stream, when we flow with life we move with ease around the obstacles in our path.
When we yield to what at first appears to be blocking our way, we continue to move forward and make progress. Anything that appears to be in our way is simply part of our path — as if we’re on a straight, desert road stretching out miles ahead into the horizon. Like a concrete dam or a brick wall —…
