Be the Mighty Willow Tree
It’s the age-old story of the willow tree and the oak tree. In a tumultuous wind and rain storm, the mighty oak tree breaks in half and tumbles to the ground. Although it is strong, it is rigid and inflexible. This caused its failure.
After the storm, the oak tree was in pieces on the ground, but not far away was the humble willow tree, whose branches leaned into the wind; it swayed in the give and take of the storm.
Its strength? Being able to ‘go with the flow’ and not resist the inevitable.
The humble willow tree became the mighty willow tree by its ability to bend in the wind.
This story has been used for decades as an analogy to teach humans that we can be strong and also be nimble at the same time.
This is not to teach humans to give in and be submissive in every instance; it is a story that teaches it is a strength to be able to give and take daily in all situations, including in your personal life and your career.
What Happens With a Flexible Mindset
When focused on growing our business, we know there are learning curves and risks, as well as failure and success. “With a growth mindset, we focus on effort, practice, and the process of learning. We develop a repertoire of approaches to difficult tasks, and we know that mistakes and failures are likely. We acknowledge that the best learning occurs at the edge of our current abilities, just outside of our comfort zone, which means that sometimes we must take risks.” If we are willing to take risks, we are also aware that we need flexibility in our thinking process and the ability to bend with change, embrace new ideas, and be flexible in our attitude.
In a Fixed Mindset…
All too often, people are fixed in their ideas of how things should be, according to their desires. “With a fixed mindset, we focus mostly on outcomes. We have a set way of approaching things, and we try not to make mistakes. Because we see any kind of failure as “bad,” we tend to stay in our comfort zone and avoid challenges.” Is this you? Yes, and it’s everyone. It is very common to be rigid or inflexible when we have blinders that don’t allow us to see other options. This is a huge mistake that can lead to failure.
If you are willing to be flexible to ask for others’ opinions, or explore other creative ways to build your product, and even if you end up implementing your original idea, you will have considered all the options, and will now have all the information you need. Your probability of success rises incrementally the more you know.
Flex or Fix?
Business is competitive, so there is a need to look at the pros and cons of flexibility. Here are some basic rules to follow:
In These Situations, Stay Fixed
- When you are morals are in danger.
- When you are asked to be dishonest.
- In any circumstance, when there is a chance of causing unnecessary harm to others.
- When your gut tells you that you are correct.
In These Situations, Be Flexible
- When someone presents an idea that betters your project or product.
- If you need to modify your behavior.
- When you need to reassess your opinions of others.
- When you need more information before making a final decision.
Users Report: Mind Feels Decades Younger
Using sound therapy and the theta wave, users have reported faster learning speed, extended memory retention, and advanced cognitive function. All after just 7 seconds.
Some users even report feeling luckier!
If you're worried about your cognition and aging, try this!
The Importance of Being Honest With Yourself
On your journey of self-discovery and career building, it would be helpful to be honest about your personality traits and how you view yourself, as well as how others view you.
Do you think you are always right, but others see you as stubborn?
Do you have experience that no one else has, but what you did before isn’t applicable anymore?
Have your thoughts about your products changed over time, or has competition passed you by because you refuse to accept change?
Do you treat others with kindness or run over everyone because you are the boss?
You can be strong, yet flexible. You can be a leader, but kind. You can be successful, but wise.
Manifesting More Topics
The Amazing Power of a Mastermind Group. Learn More
How to be Irreplaceable and Irresistible. Learn More