The Beauty of Flexibility

Everyone wishes for flexible work timings, a flexible boss, spouse, employee, friends and parents. However, when it comes to ourselves, we are quite intolerant and rigid towards our own selves. We confuse 'flexibility' with 'indiscipline' and 'leniency' & push ourselves to the point of no return. Through this article, I list WHY being flexible is an amazing trait to develop and that one tip (with example) that has helped me (most of the times) prevent 'flexibility' from spilling over to 'irregularity' & 'indiscipline'.

Reason 1: It is quite normal to be bogged down by failed plans, However, a person who is flexible is more open to new and unexplored opportunities. While it is fantastic to go about the day as planned, how you react when a plan goes haywire is what determines the rest of your day and life. Do you choose to sulk and torture your self with remorse and frustration? Or do you choose to pick up from where you left and find new opportunities to grow? This little Choice plays a very significant role as..

Reason 2: You sustain longer because you know how to get back on to your two feet after every slip-up. Also, flexibility ensures that you enjoy what you do without letting the fatigue of expectations bog you down. Though life is a mix of ups and downs, people who have trained themselves to be flexible, sail through both these phases calmly. They are generally very contented and in better mental health. Also...

Reason 3: You develop better relationships with yourself and others by establishing confidence and a sense of security. When you are happier and willing to accommodate change in routines and plans, it demonstrates flexibility that goes a long way in cementing long lasting relationships.

I have been painstakingly working on developing flexibility and trying to learn from my past experiences. Initially, I would start something with a lot of enthusiasm, however, failed plans would affect me so much that I would completely lose interest. After some observation and trying out a few things, I found that 'time-bound deviation allowances' actually helped me stick to my plans better. This is not as complicated as it seems, let me explain with my favorite example:

If I planned 150 minutes of workout in a week and made a day-wise plan, there could be instances of an unplanned activity affecting my schedule. Initially, I would let these unplanned commitments completely ruin my weekly agenda and would lose track of my schedule. However, 'time-bound deviation allowances' made me realize that my AIM was to get in 150 minutes of workouts in a week - does not necessarily mean on Monday to Friday at 5:30 PM EVERYDAY. The outcome was I got more regular and also availed rest on the days my body asked for it. Being mindful of the opportunity to fit in the missed workout without compromising on form and rest was the outcome.

A very important aspect that shouldn't be missed however is that for 'flexibility' to actually work, one needs to be Convinced, Committed and Consistent. These 3C's help you connect better with yourself and makes the marriage between flexibility and discipline a perfect formula for contentment & success.

Flexibility is Liberating.

A BIG THANKS to all of you for liking, commenting and re-sharing my work !! I am glad that I have gotten back to this form of expression once again. Thank you all once again. Following are the links to my previous work:

The balancing act - A working youngster's attempt to a happy life

Life lessons learnt on the running track

An obvious but overlooked aspect of new year resolutions

My mother's guide to a fulfilling life