The Rugged Flexibility of Vision

Stability is not about resisting change; it’s about adapting with strength and clarity.

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"Following disorder, living systems crave stability, but they achieve that stability somewhere new. Allostasis is defined as "stability through change." Whereas homeostasis describes a pattern of order, disorder, order, allostasis describes a pattern of order, disorder, reorder. Everything is always changing, including us. We are constantly somewhere in the cycle of order, disorder, reorder. Our stability results from our being able to navigate this cycle - we achieve stability through change." - Brad Stulberg, Master of Change

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Embrace a Vision That Evolves

Many believe that a vision must be fixed—like a blueprint set in stone. But in reality, the most effective visions are rugged yet flexible—clear in purpose yet adaptable to shifting landscapes. The world around you is unpredictable. If you hold too tightly to a rigid plan, you risk breaking when inevitable disruptions arise. But if your vision is flexible—if it allows for detours, adjustments, and reordering—you can navigate change without losing your direction.

Brad Stulberg introduces the concept of "rugged flexibility," a mindset that blends resilience with adaptability. To harness this, you must cultivate three key attributes:

1. A Rugged and Flexible Mindset – Accept that change is constant and develop the mental toughness to embrace it rather than resist it.

2. A Rugged and Flexible Identity – See yourself not as a fixed entity but as an evolving force capable of growth and reinvention.

3. Rugged and Flexible Actions – While external events may be out of your control, your response to them is entirely within your power.

Your vision is not about clinging to a single path—it’s about having a clear North Star while adjusting your route as necessary.

As Stulberg says, “When you are traveling on a path, you may have a general sense of where you are going, but you are open to navigating, perhaps even making use of, whatever detours arise.”

Daily Inner Quest

Your vision must be strong enough to guide you but flexible enough to evolve.

Where are you clinging to a rigid plan that no longer serves you?

Today, examine your direction—not to change your destination, but to ensure your approach is adaptable. Embrace the art of reordering. Stability is not found in resisting change, but in mastering it.

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