Can You See This Picture?

I guess you can’t because it’s not a photograph or a drawing, but rather a good mental image geared to flex your thinking. Once the way you think gets solid, strong and formed, you have already lost the battle. Once you think you are well informed and have all the answers to life, you are likely to get knocked about by unfamiliar circumstances.

To get the most out of life, you have to stay pliable; keep all your options open, keep your thinking and life flexible. You have to be ready at any time to roll as hell breaks loose; and truth be told it always breaks when you least expect it. The moment you get established in a set pattern, you set yourself for being knocked off-course.

Take for example; a couple of years ago, on my way back home, I met a man in his mid-50s who shared an intriguing story with me that left me completely bewildered. He talked about two different kinds of perspectives of two kinds of people who encountered practically the same situation.

The first was about a man, a strong man, who because of his upbringing has learnt to deal with life the hard way. He never wanted to settle for less. He always tries to change a situation by relying more on his physical strength to subdue and overcome any challenge that gets in his way. One day, he traveled to a foreign country in search for green pasture. As a foreigner he was unfamiliar with the people and surrounding so he struggled very hard to make ends meet. After a couple of years, with much hardship, he barely made it but he triumphed eventually.

The second was about a man, also a strong man. His upbringing was a little different from the first man. He was brought up in such a way to be flexible when challenges arise. He was taught to be flexible in his thinking; to take life like martial art; to be ready to duck and weave, dodge and flow with challenges whenever they arise. He was taught not to depend entirely on his physical strength to change a situation but rather to let the challenge come to him with all its noise. One day, he traveled to a foreign country also in search for green pasture. As a foreigner he was also unfamiliar with the people he saw and environment he found himself. He kept all options open to him and exercised the power of his mind. After a couple of years, he established a profitable business and went back to his country.

This narration paints a picture of two different kinds of perspectives. The first perspective is about a man who relied mostly on his physical strength to survive. He made it; but barely. The question now is; would he make it under a different and more difficult situation if he relies only on his physical strength?

The second perspective is about a man who not only relied on his physical strength but also the power of his mind. He was taught to be flexible with life; to keep all options open to him. I bet he would triumph under a different circumstance if he continues being flexible both in his thinking and with life.

Be flexible in your thinking!!

Thanks for reading.