Agile or Stable? Lessons from Choosing the Right Frame

I was recently shopping for a new mountain bike and found that my height puts me between two sizes.

The salesperson explained it simply:

● The smaller frame would feel more agile — quick, responsive, easy to maneuver.

● The medium frame would feel more stable — grounded, balanced, steady.

Neither option was wrong. They will just provide a slightly different riding experience.

That distinction stayed with me long after I left the shop, because it felt like a perfect metaphor for how many of us are living.

When Agility Stops Working

For a long time, agility feels like the goal.

An agile life looks like:

● Saying yes easily

● Moving quickly between responsibilities

● Keeping things loose and flexible

● Being available to everything and everyone

This often works beautifully, until it doesn’t.

As life expands (kids, work, caregiving, transitions, new goals), that same agility can start to feel like instability. You’re moving fast, but constantly correcting. Nothing quite settles. You’re not doing anything wrong, the frame just may no longer fit the terrain you’re riding.

Stability Isn’t Stuck — It’s Support

Stability often gets a bad reputation. People associate it with rigidity, boredom, or loss of

freedom. But true stability isn’t about restriction, it’s about support.

A more stable frame looks like:

● Clear boundaries

● Fewer decisions

● Systems that hold weight

● Space to breathe without constantly adjusting

In both life and home, stability allows you to move forward without white‐knuckling every turn.

How This Shows Up in Our Homes

I see this all the time in organizing work.

Loose systems, piles, open baskets, flexible “I’ll deal with it later” solutions, are agile. They work when life is light.

But when life gets fuller, those same systems collapse under pressure.

A bit more structure, clear zones, defined limits, and intentional systems create stability. Not perfection. Not rigidity. Just enough support so your space can hold your life rather than fight it.

How This Shows Up in Our Work and Decisions

This applies just as much to work and business.

An agile approach says yes to everything:

● Every opportunity

● Every request

● Every idea

A more stable approach chooses intentionally:

● Clear offers

● Defined schedules

● Thoughtful priorities

Stability doesn’t slow progress, it makes progress sustainable.

Choosing the Frame That Fits Now

What struck me most about the bike decision was this:

The right choice had nothing to do with what felt fastest in the moment; it had everything to do with what would support me best over time.

In the end, I chose the medium, more stable frame.

Not because I wanted less freedom but because I wanted a ride that felt grounded, confident, and sustainable for the long haul.

A Question Worth Asking

If things feel wobbly right now, maybe the question isn’t:

“Why can’t I keep up?”

Maybe it’s:

“Am I still riding a frame that fits the life I’m living today?”

Sometimes the most powerful shift isn’t working harder or moving faster; it’s choosing a structure that supports where you are in life.

If you’re feeling called to create more stability in your home, your work, or the way your days actually flow, this is exactly the kind of conversation I guide clients through. Calm, thoughtful adjustments that fit who you are now, not who you used to be.