:Analogies for Sustainable Development/Adaptive flexibility as grass in the wind

“ The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than

the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.

” — Confucius

Grasses blowing in the Wind at Tringford Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 1419264

Analogy Map

Reed in the wind	Adaptive flexibility
Wind	Changes in the environment
Being physically flexible to bend	Being behaviorally, psychologically, and/or socioculturally flexible to adapt
Not breaking	Surviving, flourishing, living towards one's values

Discussion

This analogy serves as a simple way to introduce the target concept of adaptive flexibility and resilience across contexts.

Class discussion questions: What are the paralells between the physical flexibility or rigidity of plants, and the mental or social flexibility of humans?

References

Analogies for Sustainable Development