Lately all signs have been pointing to slowing down. I see the signs, I hear the messages loud and clear, and yet I’ve been choosing to ignore, defy them even, because Universe, I know better than you, and quite frankly I’ve got a lot of stuff to get done. 😉
I’m telling you, I fight slowing down tooth and nail, and I even manage to align my being responsible with moving quickly. That’s one of my go-to arguments/defenses. But more than ever before, one thing has become abundantly clear, and that is this: for me one surefire way to remove the joy from any situation is to rush.
Now this isn’t to say that it’s always either/or, that speed and joy can’t ever co-exist. It’s just that speed sometimes goes hand-in-hand with disconnection and mindlessness. I’m talking about times when mindfulness, joy, connection, presence, and gratitude get sacrificed for speed.
It seems like an obvious choice. So, why is this such a common struggle? Why am I even asking if you’d rather have more checked boxes on your to-do list or more joy?
“Beneath my ‘time-wasting’ thoughts was the most startling realization of all: I was afraid. You see, my self-worth was tied to how much I accomplished. I thought that if I could speed things up around me, then I could get more done. If I did that, then I would be more valued, therefore more loved, and therefore happier.” — Judith Hanson Lasater, Living Your Yoga
So, we aim to trade fear for trust and remember that love, joy, and value are our birthrights, not states that need to be achieved or earned. As a chronic do-er, accomplisher, and box-checker, I find it helpful to remind myself that we all have enough of everything we need, including time. You are right on time and precisely on course.
You are enough. You “just” being you is enough. You are prequalified for a life filled with love and joy, and absolutely nothing you do or do not do can change that.
“You can’t miss your boat. It’s yours. It stays docked till you’re ready. The only boat you can miss is someone else’s. Let them have theirs while you wait for yours.” — Glennon Doyle
Krystal Barschig 