On the surface, this is just another “pick your battles” saying, but I like this one the best because it properly speaks to the cost of taking a stand.
When we dig our heels in and insist on something, we’re paying a price. We’re burning something – energy, good-will, time, effort, money or bridges.
And not only are we burning it, but we can run out of fuel and lose the situation entirely. It might not be so dramatic as to mean our death, but it might spell the end of our opportunity to participate in a particular area. The end of a job, a relationship, a company, a marriage.
This is not to say that we should just become doormats in the name of self preservation, but that we should be deliberate about which beaches we choose to fight on. If we’re not prepared to die on a beach, then maybe we should question whether it’s worth fighting there.
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NOTE: I’m still not sure how I feel about this idea, but I thought I’d put it out there anyway to see what happens when other people start to push against it.
Is there a better or more nuanced way to articulate this idea? Is the idea itself true and useful?
Also, what beaches would you definitely die on? Which beaches do you die on unintentionally (and maybe repeatedly)?
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