The oldest and longest-lasting empire in the world was that of Chinese. That empire endured through the reigns of many emperors and many dynasties.
How was this possible? It wasn’t because of military power of tremendous wealth, because over the course of thousands of years, those things came and went many times. The real reason the Chinese empire lasted so long was because of the work of two very different philosophers. The first, Confucius, provided ideas that became the solid foundation of the imperial government. He supplied the theories by which the imperial government was conducted.
Confucius taught a code of ethics that gave specific instruction on how the ruling classes could fulfill their duty to the nation and maintain law and order. He was essentially a law-giver, a thinker who supplied some fixed beacons for navigating the ship of state into the unknown future.
The second philosopher, whose name was Lao-Tse, had a very different perspective. Historians associate Lao-Tse’s ideas with magic and mystical powers, but he also placed a very modern kind of emphasis on the need for intuition and the ability to react quickly to change. Lao-Tse pointed out that sometimes it is best to advance by retreating–that sometimes wars can be won by losing a few battles, and long-term goals can be achieved by accepting short-term reversals. Sometimes it is best to resist like the tall grasses bending in the wind, or like a river finding a new route around an obstacle. A powerful ocean wave smashing onto a beach may was away a sand dune, but the individual grain of sand simply goes with the flow and is unharmed. By incorporating both these perspectives, the ancient Chinese dynasties developed a structure similar to that of modern buildings in Los Angeles or Tokyo, which are built to withstand earthquakes. Their foundations are strongly reinforced, but there’s also room for sway and give.
Flexibility is simple in theory, but tremendously challenging in practice. It means learning to distinguish between what we can control and what is beyond our control. Practicing flexibility requires great self-knowledge and iron self-control, like a master of martial arts.
To be flexible does not mean to be weak, to flounder about aimlessly and confusedly because we think there’s nothing to be done. No, it requires self-discipline. Flexibility requires a cool head, an appraising eye, poise, balance, and judgment. And it is the key to graceful change.
* Source: Leading an Inspired Life by Jim Rohn