The Flexible Space of Living Foundations

A few years ago, while planning numerous expansions to my life, I began to question whether the foundations of my existence were solid enough to take the additional weight. The original groundwork had been laid at my birth, and relied on the knowledge and careful skills of others to determine my probable needs over a lifetime. At 30-something years old, the invisible slate had seen countless new builds, extensions, renovations, demolitions and repairs; weathering storms of unforeseen chaos and similar natural disasters. The footings that were once set square and level, had experienced cracking and depressions, resulting in irregular sloping and inconsistent unevenness impacting the entire above ground structure. As I began to survey the damage, I recognised that the type of foundation did not suit the needs of my true self, and the conditions of the surrounding soil had changed dramatically. The damage was my sole responsibility to repair as any future build works would only last for a short while before certain structural failure.

Many important life choices are often made without inquiring whether our individual foundations are capable of supporting them. We might become caught up in the possibility of a promotion at work, without understanding how the added stress will impact our existing health issues. We could be overcome by a desire to start a family without addressing underlying communication issues in our most intimate relationship. Or we simply fail to recognise how the weight of existing trauma lingering in the background of our personal experience has weakened our resilience and self-confidence to make informed assessments.

The fundamental purpose of a foundation is to maintain the upright position of the built overhead structure, stabilising interchangeable terrain to protect and preserve ongoing construction. The more expansion we generate in our lives, the more likely our observation becomes obscured by everything tangible we build on the surface. Without inspecting our foundations, scrutinising its ability to hold added weight, the more gullible our beliefs become that our foundation must comprise a superior quality from a secret ingredient, and does not require examination through ongoing maintenance. When the invisible problem is hidden beneath the surface, failure to unearth the disintegrating fragments produces consequences at a cost to our centre, core strength.

The foundations of one’s life can be likened to concrete – once it is poured and solidifies, it is difficult to re-adjust and correct. Patch-job repair works, risks the integrity of quality control, because you cannot guarantee the suitability of fusing original materials with new malleable materials for current conditions. When we adapt our perception to recognise the built-in, pre-determined obsolescence of outdated practices, we also comprehend the limited intervention of grit in the surrounding soil to subsidise primary structural support. With the odds stacked against a favourable outcome, it only becomes a matter of time before everyone must ask themselves ‘when should I demolish my original foundation?’ This process is essential to disrupt the structure’s inflexibility that discourages change outside its bendable limits.

Foundations that are adaptable yet stable recognises the need for innovative designs. Trees can teach us about getting our foundations right. To grow strong structures, tree’s simultaneously grow upward and out, as well as downward and out; becoming deeply grounded as they reach for the sky’s limits. The living quality of their stems desires an intricate root system capable of ongoing movement, able to adjust the course of their lifespan based on available resources. Soil becomes fertile ground for continual expansion, and unlike the solidarity of concrete, the permeable quality of earth actively supports the fluidity of change occurring above ground.

This quality of integral movement capabilities fundamental to the viability of a built structure, can also be seen in the foundations of many engineering marvels. The design of the Golden Gate suspension bridge in San Francisco USA, considers the minimum and maximum impact of loads from changing winds and weather temperatures, earthquakes, vehicle traffic, and corrosive damage on construction materials. By understanding the changing nature of transverse deflection, upward deflection and downward deflection over a period of 85 years, the longevity of the structure’s foundation remains feasible.

As humans we understand the necessity of movement to expand our life-force. If we find ourselves stuck like glue in an environment that cannot provide for our needs, we naturally seek our change. Before undertaking any transformation, I strongly recommend you survey your lot, test the surrounding soil, and examine the footings of your life’s foundations. It’s a simple task to ensure your core self is capable of accommodating a wonderful change for many years to come.