I first came across the phrase “existential flexibility” while watching a Simon Sinek video on YouTube. He was talking about his book The Infinite Game and how leaders today need to be adaptable to survive in a world that’s constantly changing. The idea caught my attention. At first, I thought it was one of those business buzzwords, but the more I listened, the more it started to make sense for everyday life.
Existential flexibility is about having the ability to make big, sometimes uncomfortable changes without losing sight of your core purpose. It’s about staying true to your goals while being flexible enough to shift when life demands it. And honestly, that’s what life is all about. We make plans and set goals, but how often does everything go exactly as planned? Almost never.
What clicked for me was the realisation that existential flexibility isn’t about abandoning your dreams or giving up. It’s about adapting. Sometimes life throws curveballs — a job doesn’t pan out, relationships shift, or unexpected challenges pop up. Instead of resisting those changes, existential flexibility is about embracing them and finding new ways to keep moving forward.
Imagine you’re on a road trip, and suddenly there’s a roadblock. Do you turn around and give up? No. You find a new route that still takes you to your destination. That’s what existential flexibility feels like. You stay focused on your end goal, but you’re willing to adjust your route along the way.
It’s not always easy, but there’s something freeing in knowing that you don’t have to be rigid in your approach. You can pivot, adapt, and still make progress, no matter what life throws at you. And that, to me, is what keeps things exciting.
