Hurrying

Recently, I went to lunch with a friend. As we lounged back in our chairs, enjoying the outdoor summer dining, I realized we might not get back to a scheduled event on time, and I made a quick energy shift to let's get out of here. 

As I rushed from the outdoor space through the restaurant and out the door, my friend politely followed but clearly did not understand my urgency and made a few observational jokes about my sudden rush as I worked to catch up with myself.  

We made it to the event on time (with a few moments to spare), but I later wondered, at what cost? 

I have been thinking about the phrase "hurry up and wait." To me, this phrase implies means that there is an inefficient use of time. But is the point to be efficient with our time, or to be present for it?

Time enjoyed is not wasted, nor is time spent learning difficult lessons. All too often, however, we avoid being present in the moment and indulge in some form of distraction. What are some common ways that we distract ourselves without realizing it?

Worrying may feel necessary, but it produces nothing of value. If you could eliminate it from your life, how else could you use your time and energy? What superpowers could you cultivate?

Buffering is another way to escape emotion. Buffering takes us away from the present moment by choosing unconsciousness over self-awareness.

We don't always recognize people-pleasing as a way to avoid being present in the moment, but when we say yes to get someone to change how they feel about us, we are not showing up as our true selves.

Indecision denies action. It's okay to take a step even if you don't know what step will follow. If you feel we don't have enough information to move forward, try something to gain insight. Reflection and information-gathering are essential parts of moving forward.

Judging ourselves and others gives us nothing in return. Being judgmental may feel like action, but it is not productive and doesn't take us anywhere. If we stop judging, we can listen to our desires more clearly and open ourselves up to new choices and directions.

Regretting is how we use our past at the expense of our present. You don't need to regret a past behavior, never to do it again. You can learn and let go.

 By paying attention to how we get sidetracked and choosing to reduce or eliminate the time we spend engaging our distractions, we create and hold more time/space for ourselves and, in turn, for others.