The title of this piece is from author GK Chesterton. Although he was talking about patriotism, we could easily interpret this statement to be talking about any rigid or strongly-held belief.
The problem with adopting this mindset is that life around us is constantly changing, and it is highly unlikely that any two situations are exactly alike. There are countless examples of how we vary our approaches to situations. With driving a car over the same stretch of road, for example, we are going to do it differently in a blinding snowstorm as opposed to on a bright sunny day. We change our approach when our children are oppositional to get them to comply. We change our spending habits in response to changes in our income.
Are we all flexible and responsive to changes in our lives? Certainly not. We all know individuals for whom rigid inflexibility keeps them in their comfort zone, regardless of how silly or frustrating this may appear to those of us who can flex. If you work in a factory making widgets, all of which must be exactly the same, this mindset can be an asset, but it can become a handicap once you step outside of the factory and have to deal with the rest of the world with all of its' vagaries and challenges.
If you happen to work in a place where flexible thinking is an asset, but you have some widget makers as co-workers, stress and conflict are sure to arise. Over the years, I have worked with nurses who "always do ____ this way". For some tasks (taking vital signs, applying restraints, starting an IV) this mindset is fine. However, when you are dealing with a dissatisfied patient, these nurses often struggle and end up looking silly (or worse).
These folks will be the first to tell you "I hate change". Unfortunately, change is always happening, and we need to be able to adapt to be successful. For those who can't or won't, it's "My mother, drunk or sober".
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