"When we're children, we think in black and white and believe rules are hard and fast. As adults, as life experience kicks in, we begin to understand there are different sorts of rules. We understand that not stealing is a hard rule. We might also understand that 'don't wear jeans to work' means don't wear ratty jeans, or don't wear jeans on days the corporate team are visiting."
"The practical takeaway: When you're allowed to break an unimportant rule, go with it. When you're not, don't make a fuss. Don't say, 'But I was allowed to break the rule last week.' Read the room. If you've been allowed to break an unimportant rule before, but suddenly you're not, let some time pass and poke it again."
Operating in fast-changing environments with imperfect systems demands specific adaptive skills. Success requires distinguishing between hard rules and flexible guidelines, understanding the intent behind rules rather than their literal application, and knowing when to bend or challenge them. This involves reading contextual cues, recognizing when circumstances change, and adjusting behavior accordingly. Additionally, thriving requires embracing calculated risks and uncertainty rather than seeking perfect information, accepting that some losses are inevitable costs of participation. Finally, maintaining perspective prevents overreaction to minor setbacks and helps prioritize energy on genuinely important outcomes versus temporary fluctuations.
Read at Psychology Today
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