Hurry Up And Slow Down – Embrace A Balanced Approach To Life
- Jul 18, 2023
- 4 min read
Written by: Natalie Johnston, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Understand the detrimental effects of rushing through life, such as haste, panic, mistakes, and dissatisfaction, and learn to adopt a mindful and balanced approach, evoking a sense of calm and peace. Learn to savor the journey rather than focusing solely on the end result. Slow down. Appreciate the present. And cherish meaningful moments. Just hurry up and slow down.
Being a rush. We all know what that feels like. Whether you’re running for a train, a bus, or a plane. That anxious feeling begins in the pit of your stomach. The panic sets in. The sweat starts to pour from your forehead. The realisation comes over you. You’re late!
Then amidst the panic, your walk turns into that awkward half jog, usually accompanied by lots of bags and jackets in hand to add to the experience. The sweat starts to pour from your face, and then to your back. Your breath starts to become quicker and shallower. You start to make silly mistakes. You get the train platforms mixed up, you get on the wrong bus, and you drop things in your haste. Overall, just a less-than-compelling experience.
Experiences are always more enjoyable without the rush
Compare that to when you’ve arrived in plenty of time for your train. How do you feel then? Calm? Collected? Your posture may be relaxed and your breathing steady. You may even have time to browse the shops or grab a cup of coffee before your journey begins.
This comparison details the very same act, but it can be experienced in two very different ways. I don’t think there is anyone on the planet that prefers the first option, but you may tell me I’m wrong.
Let’s understand this. Why would we humans pick the first option when the second is also a choice? I think the very same about life. Why do we always choose to be in a rush? Choose to cram more into every single second of our days? If we’re not moving at speed, we deem ourselves ‘unproductive’ or ‘inefficient’ or tell ourselves we haven't done ‘enough’ yet. Think about your goals and dreams for a moment, then ask yourself, am I taking action that moves me closer to them? Even if it's one small action each day, If that answer is yes, then what does it matter the amount of time you took to get to the train, as long as you get there before it departs from the station?
Think of your life as the train departing
Yes, of course, we don’t know how long we will have the privilege of being here on this earth, and of course, we should make the most of every moment. But you can do so without panic. Do you want to look back and remember your key life moments when you were rushed, anxious, sweaty, and panicked? or do you want to remember the time you took to browse around the shops and maybe stop for a coffee when in the end both options still make the train?
In life, we always try to hurry things up
If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve all probably been guilty of this to some degree. We see the train. We know what platform it’s leaving from and we want to hurry up and get on it now. But what good does that do? You don’t get to take in your surroundings, drink your coffee and people watch as you’re too busy trying to get there.
The days are long, but the years are short
This is a powerful analogy that we all need to remember more. Although it may feel like your goals and desires are taking ‘forever’ to arrive, when you look back at your life so far, you realise it all goes by in the blink of an eye.
Perhaps you’re a parent with a newborn and are in a rush for your kid to get to school only to be sad and miss those moments when your child wasn’t so independent. Maybe you’re counting down the days until your retirement so you can enjoy the ‘freedom’ it brings, only to realise you miss work. Or maybe you’re starting a business, and you want to be well established with employees and cash in the bank, only to look back in 5 years and reminisce about the days when you were starting from scratch and there was only a couple of you doing everything.
We’re all in a rush. But ask yourself, am I really in a rush to get to the end?
We’ll all arrive there eventually and when we do, how are you going to remember your key life moments? As a sweaty panicked mess or as that calm person, that's sipping on a warm coffee and enjoying the view. I know which I’d rather pick.
Remember this next time you’re in a rush and want to fast-forward time. Because really, we should all just hurry up and slow down.
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Natalie Johnston, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Natalie Johnston is Founder of TTM Coaching. Natalie is an accredited coach, BA graduate, speaker and experienced marketeer. She has spent her working career in Scotland, North America, and London. TTM Coaching was born from her belief that we can all become the best version of ourselves and when we do the work on the inside, the impact is felt on the outside, creating the ‘ripple effect’ of positive change. Fuelled by her desire to ensure the workplace, of which we rely on to meet so many of our physical and psychological human needs, is a place where individuals can grow and thrive. Natalie dedicates her time to working with individuals and organisations to unlock their full potential.
