This concept is akin to being like a bamboo plant. No matter how strong the wind blows, the bamboo will sway with the wind, but seldom cracks. When you set a goal to lose weight or build muscle by a certain date, you really CANNOT be sure if you’ll reach your goal by the deadline. You may lose quite a bit of weight but not hit the target. Or you may pack on several pounds of lean muscle on your frame, but your legs may look undeveloped. This is par for the course. At times like these, you must be flexible enough to set a new deadline. Give yourself another month or two to reach the target. Sometimes, all you need is more time. If you lose hope just because you didn’t meet the deadline and quit, guess what? You’ll NEVER achieve your goals. Be flexible with the time you give yourself and stay on track. That said, rigidity is important in other areas. If you’re practicing intermittent fasting, you need to be rigid with your eating times. If you’re on a clean diet, you need to be rigid and avoid junk food. Rigidity is imperative when following the plan. However, common sense must apply. If your upper body is aching and tired, but your workout calls for another shoulders and biceps day be flexible and switch it for a leg workout instead. Listen to the signals your body gives you and work accordingly. Be rigid when it’s crucial to achieving your goals and flexible when you’ve done your best and need to deal with temporary setbacks. This will help you stay motivated and keep you going without you beating yourself up for being a perceived failure.