Adaptability: A Matter of Life and Death
Baptism by Fire: The Trials of Marcus Aurelius
Following the demise of his sibling Lucius in 169 AD, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius encountered the unforeseen responsibility of being the sole leader of forces amassing by the River Danube for the initial Marcomannic conflict. Nearing his sixth decade and lacked any military background. Marcus discovered himself at the helm of the most substantial Roman forces ever congregated at a frontier, with approximately 140,000 men awaiting his orders.
The Sarmatians, fierce and daunting adversaries characterized by blue eyes, lengthy golden hair, and thick beards, faced them across the River Danube. They were extraordinary horsemen, and their beautiful armors looked like snake's skin. They often brought the Romans into ambushes that led to military catastrophes. The Sarmatians’ horses were adept at charging across icy surfaces, so they enticed the Romans onto the frozen river for their tactical advantage.
The typical Roman defense formation was called the infantry square, also known as “hollow square.” Officers and lightly armored soldiers were protected on the inside by legionaries facing outward on all four sides, their rectangular shields packed together, forming a protective wall. This defense proved effective as long as the Romans maintained their formation; however, they faced imminent slaughter if the cavalry managed to penetrate the square. The icy conditions were responsible for precisely such a predicament. Sarmatian lances crashed into the shields of the legionaries composing the defensive walls, causing the Romans to lose balance and slip on the frozen terrain. Once they fell, they were left vulnerable and ultimately met their brutal end at the hands of their adversaries.
Marcus remained composed, scrutinizing and contemplating the situation. He had the idea to teach a new trick to his infantry. Next time, the Sarmatians would be in for a surprise. Indeed, when the next clash happened, the legionaries held formation flawlessly as the lances struck their shields and glanced off harmlessly.
Soldiers within the square had strategically placed their shields on the ice, gripping them firmly. The outer legionaries braced their rear foot against their allies' shields, providing stability against the force of the enemy's assault. As the Sarmatian horsemen reeled from the shock of their failed charge, the Romans initiated a counterattack with lethal precision. The ice was soon awash with Sarmatian blood, as they were unable to fly back to the safety of the forest and were thrown into disarray. Romans were grappling with Sarmatians on the red ice. Marcus's legionaries were trained in wrestling, and the tribesmen had little experience in this kind of disciplined close-combat fighting. The Sarmatians, caught unprepared by the altered tactic, ultimately faced defeat.
Rising from the Ashes: How Marcus Aurelius Overcame Setbacks
After several initial setbacks, Marcus cleverly reversed the circumstances, delivering a significant blow to the opposing forces. The Sarmatians could no longer exploit the terrain to their advantage, and the war suddenly turned in Rome's favor.
Embracing the perilous strategy of intentionally entering an ambush, Marcus demonstrated an exceptional capacity for adaptation. The stakes were high; it was a matter of survival for both him and his soldiers.
The story of Marcus commanding soldiers on the River Danube is an extreme and epic example of the aptitude for adaptability, which remains vital in our contemporary existence. It can make the difference between success and failure, between feeling happy or miserable. Adaptability plays a vital role in all aspects of life. Relationships may necessitate adaptation in response to a loved one's changes or challenges, such as if someone develops a disability or shares an important aspect of their identities that had previously been kept private. Businesses might require swift adjustments to persevere and enhance performance, such as when millions of businesses had to pivot to function remotely at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Innumerable examples exist, which one can observe in their personal experiences or those of others.
From Then to Now: The Timeless Necessity of Adaptability
What does adaptability even mean? Illustrious basketball coach John Wooden, nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood," put it this simple way:
"Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation at any given time."
John won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association national championships in a 12-year period as head coach for the UCLA Bruins.
Military commanders have for centuries lived by this creed, "No plans survive first contact with the enemy." It seems crucial to realize that to reach success in any ambitious endeavor, as well as to go through life with a serene mind, one must be able to adapt when the initial plan fails, which it often does. Did you know that Bruce Lee excelled in philosophy just as much as in martial arts? He had thousands of books stacked in his house, and when he was injured and couldn't train, he was reading and writing nearly all the time. I highly recommend this book. Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living. On the topic of adaptability, Bruce said:
“To change with change is the changeless state. Change often brings fear, and many times we resist. But if you can flow and be adaptable, you can move through all of the things that life throws at you, with much ease, you will remain in a place where you won't freak out and you will remain in a changeless state."
I think this is absolutely spot on and Bruce Lee was a remarkable thinker.
Everyone, metaphorically, get hits by life. There is always a day when the enemy makes first contact, and that is when we realize the importance of our adaptability skills. Perseverance involves the proactive refinement of our strategies and what we do to try to achieve our goals, while adaptability is about our capacity to react and transform when we experience changed circumstances. The more swiftly and effectively one can adapt under pressure, amidst ambiguous circumstances and with unknown futures, the more they build their aptitude for adaptability. The act of adapting doesn't always need to be grandiose; rather, it should be fitting and commensurate with the situation at hand.
Brace for Impact: The Art of Adaptation for a Better Life
The principles of adaptability have consistently played into our survival and evolution; we've gleaned this understanding from Charles Darwin's renowned studies and theories on survival of the fittest. Those possessing the most advantageous genetic mutations within their unique environments prevail and flourish. These principles reverberate in our daily lives with massive consequences, even when playing out on a notably smaller scale compared to the evolution of a species. It manifests through the choices we make and our responses to disturbing events, particularly in a world experiencing an unprecedented rate of change technologically, culturally, ideologically, and scientifically.
Should you entertain the notion that your adaptability is somewhat lacking, keep in mind that this is not an irrevocable sentence to inflexibility. It merely indicates that a more conscious and purposeful decision to embrace change may be beneficial. As the inclination to adapt might not arise spontaneously, an extra push of reflection and willpower activation will be necessary to consciously choose this path.
Today, I encourage you not to be afraid of change. Embrace it and adapt to it. Change is the immutable law. As Octavia E. Butler beautifully wrote in her celebrated and visionary novel Parable of the Sower
“All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change.”
Today I encourage you to improve your capacity to adapt so that you will be armed with another powerful weapon to create your best life and hold the reins of your destiny. Note: I discovered this specific story of Marcus Aurelius during my research on Stoicism in a great book that I can absolutely recommend - How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius written by Donald J. Robertson.