Weekly ideas to stimulate reflection, inspire new possibilities and encourage new ways of doing and being.
1. Test the water
This week’s word is: Soft
The term "soft" can be used in various contexts (e.g. texture, character, material, sound etc.) and, generally, it refers to something that is gentle, yielding, not hard or rigid. The origin of the word "soft" can be traced back to Old English. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "samft," which means “level, even, smooth or gentle”.
What is your definition of soft and how do you relate to it? Discuss the question here.
2. Experience the initial wave
To broaden your perspective, take a few minutes to read the following thoughts and notice what comes up for you.
I.
“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.” Lao Tzu
II.
“You are now strong enough to be soft.” Alana Fairchild
III.
In Japanese, the character ju, 柔, means soft. The martial arts jujitsu, 柔術, (the “art of softness”) and judo 柔道, (the “gentle or soft way”) include methods to deflect an opponent, which can be more effective than responding with direct force. In the words of the author Dave Lowry, soft is “the ability to bend against pressure in an advantageous way, to bow rather than break, so one may then snap back again.”
3. Dive deep
To deepen your awareness and spark new discoveries, this week I invite you to reflect on the following questions:
Reflect on a time when you experienced or witnessed softness. How did it make you feel, and what impact did it have on the situation or relationship?
Think about a recent interaction where you responded with softness. What motivated this response, and how did it influence the outcome?
Consider a situation where you struggled to respond with softness. What obstacles or barriers prevented you from doing so, and what can you learn from this experience?
4. Ride your radiant wave
We often celebrate toughness and resilience. We praise those who work tirelessly and admire people who live fiercely. Completing difficult tasks, whether it's tackling a challenging project or conquering a demanding hike, brings us a sense of accomplishment. In times of adversity, we often adopt a combative mindset, pledging to fight as hard as we can. Yet, in our pursuit of hardness, we overlook an alternative approach, the one of softness. This week I encourage you to imagine a world where softness was celebrated and prioritized over hardness. How would this shift in perspective impact your life and the world around you? What steps can you take to cultivate greater softness in your thoughts, actions, and relationships? How might incorporating more softness into your life enhance your overall well-being and fulfillment?
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