“No one is more dangerously insane than one who is sane all the time: he is like a steel bridge without flexibility, and the order of his life is rigid and brittle.”
— Alan Watts
We live in a world that celebrates control. We’re taught to stick to routines, keep a schedule, and “stay on track.” But what if this obsession with stability is the very thing that keeps us from truly living?
Alan Watts, a philosopher who blended Eastern wisdom with Western thought, challenges this idea. His quote reminds us that being rigid—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—can be just as dangerous as being chaotic. Like a steel bridge with no give, we risk snapping when life inevitably shifts beneath us.
The Trap of Over-Sanity
Sanity, in the traditional sense, is often equated with predictability. But Watts flips the script. The person who clings to structure, who avoids change, who fears the unknown—isn’t grounded; they’re fragile. Life is not meant to be a perfectly paved road. It’s full of sharp turns, unexpected weather, and detours that don’t always make sense.
When we try to force everything into neat little boxes, we lose our ability to adapt. And that’s where suffering grows.
Learning to Flow Like Water
Eastern philosophy often compares life to water—and for good reason. Water bends, flows, and finds its way through even the toughest terrain. It doesn’t resist; it adjusts. That’s true flexibility. And it doesn’t mean we have no boundaries or values—it means we’re resilient enough to remain ourselves even when life doesn’t go as planned.
Watts encouraged people to live in the present, not from a place of fear or resistance, but with curiosity. Life isn’t about controlling every outcome. It’s about moving in rhythm with what is.
Flexibility Sparks Creativity
Creativity doesn’t come from perfection—it grows in uncertainty, from trying, failing, and exploring without limits. If we only operate inside the rigid rules of “how things should be,” we miss the brilliance of spontaneity. Being mentally flexible means we can shift perspectives, try new ideas, and adapt without fear of losing who we are.
This is not just an artistic mindset—it’s a survival skill. The most successful people are those who can pivot, learn, and grow, even when plans fall apart.
How to Practice Mental Flexibility
So how do we become less like the steel bridge and more like the river? Start small:
- Adopt a beginner’s mind. Let go of assumptions and approach situations with openness.
- Allow room for spontaneity. Every day doesn’t need a blueprint. Make space for curiosity.
- Let go of being right. Flexibility thrives where ego takes a back seat.
- Observe, don’t overreact. Give yourself time before forming rigid judgments or responses.
The more you practice flowing with life rather than bracing against it, the more ease, peace, and insight you’ll find.
Final Thought
There’s a quiet kind of power in flexibility. Not the power of dominance or control—but the power of resilience, softness, and wisdom. Alan Watts didn’t advocate for chaos, but for aliveness. And aliveness isn’t rigid. It breathes, bends, and becomes.
Don’t be the bridge that breaks. Be the current that moves with grace.
TheSpiritualExplorer 