The understanding that being flexible rather than steadfast would seem to be a obviously simple concept.  It’s been observed throughout recorded history.

“The wind does not break a tree that bends.” – Sukuma proverb

“The tree that does not bend with the wind will be broken by the wind.” – Chinese proverb

“The frail reed that bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty tree that breaks.” – from Aesop’s  fable

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.” - the Bible, Matthew 5:5

“Vaut mieux prévenir que guérir.“ – French proverb meaning “It is better to prevent than to heal.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Ben Franklin

The Daodejing also addresses this concept in Chapter 76.

When people are born, they are soft, supple and weak.
In death they are stiff, rigid and unbending.
In life, plants are pliant and delicate.
When dead they are withered, dried and brittle.
Therefore inflexible and unyielding are characteristics of death
while tender and weak are aspects of life.
Just as the sapless tree will split,
so will the inflexible force meet with defeat.

Certain styles of martial arts, namely Aikido and early Tai’Chi, heavily incorporate the principle of “blending not clashing”.  To overcome an opponent, you do not react strongly with your own energy but adjust in response to theirs.

No matter how universally apparent this is, many live their entire lives opposing the wind rather than moving with it.  They are comfortable in their routines, set in their ways, living in the past, et al.  Despite the historical evidence that all things change, all old ways evolve into new ways and not even the largest mountains are exempt, some of us will continue to deny the inevitable.

In fact, on the most acute scale, most of us have moments of being rigid in our daily lives.  Maybe not in obvious ways, such as in broad social, political, or religious stances, but in simple things like a change in routine: road construction puts you behind schedule on your commute, a co-worker calls in sick and you have to cover for them, a storm interrupts your Internet connection.  Either way you approach it, you are going to have to adapt to the change.

Your choice comes from how.  Will you be rigid which causes you to be stressed and can lead to increased emotional and physical decay or will you fluidly adapt like flowing water?  Reflect on how you respond to the winds of change in your life.  You may find additional ways to be like the reeds and in doing so, embrace the traits of life more fully.