“The willows submits to the wind and prospers until…” (Great Work quote)
Photo by ElyceFeliz, Flickr Creative Commons
The willow submits to the wind and prospers until one day
it is many willows; a wall against the wind.
This is the willow’s purpose.
~ Frank Herbert
We grow through resistance. (Where am I growing now? Where do I find resistance in my life?)
Our purpose is to stand for something, and stand against something. (What do I stand for? What am I standing against?)
We begin with submission. (Where am I humble? Where am I arrogant?)
Where does this quote take you?
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Posted in coaching skills, self-management
Tagged Frank Herbert, questions, quotes
Timely post for me. I’ve been exploring the relationship between resistance and resilience recently. I like your reminder that we not only stand FOR something, but we can stand AGAINST something.
Where does “We begin with submission – where am I humble, where am I arrogant? take me? It gets me thinking that the “servant leader” must start there – with submission. Reflecting on humility and arrogance in the stillness of meditation is fascinating for me, raising new and fertile questions to pursue.
Ah. I feel like I showed up here today precisely for this message, to remind me that all this uncomfortable resistance is signalling growth. That helps me breathe.
And whoa, “submission” still brings out the fierceness in me. I’m not quite ready for that. I’ve been ever so slowly coming around to “surrender.”
Thank you for this, Michael.
Resistance as growth instead of resistance as fear, or maybe it’s one and the same thing.
What am I resisting?
As an artist, getting back at the wheel and in the studio creating all the new ideas I’ve had recently.
As an empty nester, finding a part time job with low stress that still leaves me time and energy for creating and living.
How do I grow and change without giving up what I stand for?
Good question. Thanks!