Thought for the Day - The Connection between Grit and Flexibility

 A conversation recently brought up this question - if something is not working out despite our best efforts, should we give up? And when?

It is a very good question. We don't know if we are two feet away from gold or whether there is no gold, so we are stuck with this question. Many hold on, thinking that the gold is two feet away perhaps. Many give up too early thinking there is no gold.

Whatever it is, there is one aspect one must bear in mind. If the outcome is not what we expected, we must be flexible enough to look at different ways and processes, to change things and explore new ways and opportunities, until we get the outcome we want - or at least find a satisfactory outcome. I find that many times we are so obsessed with our outcome that the process is ignored or never revisited. We go hard with the process - and end up with the same outcome.

To temper our effort, to be more open and flexible, to absorb small signs or changes in the process, we need one quality that can make us truly flexible - so we can find new answers or insights. That quality is to do it with mindfulness, with a gentle and loving attitude. It could be about the product, the process, the customer - if you are fully engaged with the process, the why you are doing it - you will find answers sooner than later. 

And the journey will be so much more enjoyable. 

So the formula is Grit + Mindfulness =Adaptability and Openness to see new possibilities