What loses its nature the moment you try to preserve it?
What loses its nature the moment you try to preserve it? Why spontaneity vanishes when you try to hold onto it—and how the right structure can set it free Framing the question Some things get better the more you control them—budgets, timelines, processes. Others, like spontaneity , are almost allergic to control. This riddle points to spontaneity as something ephemeral : it only exists in the moment, and trying to preserve it changes what it is. In this post, we’ll unpack why spontaneity disappears when you try to lock it in, how over-structuring backfires, and how the right kind of light structure can actually create more room for surprise. Think of it as a quick guide to designing meetings, teams, and days that leave space for the unscripted. The answer: spontaneity The thing that loses its nature the moment you try to preserve it is spontaneity . Spontaneity is the quality of being unplanned, unforced, and genuinely in-the-moment. It’s ephemeral —i...