Life in the fast lane
My life is rarely slow; it often races along like a Ferrari. But lately, someone has hit the turbo button several times. There’s soooo much intense stuff going on in our personal lives, plus the usual madness at work and this and that… I often literally don’t know how I’m going to make it through the next day.
Things will surely/hopefully calm down for us again at some point… But even in turbo mode, living life in the fast lane, I need islands of calm so I don’t lose my mind. Maybe my two top strategies for that will help you in your busy everyday life too?
1. Really be there: mindfully through the day
Almost every day of the month, someone or something wants your attention. There are our tasks and responsibilities. And then there’s Netflix, social media, WhatsApp and the rest. Our attention is constantly being pulled from one thing to the next.
Really being in the here and now. Being present in this moment: that’s not easy at all. But it’s incredibly good and helpful for slamming on the brakes when your life is once again moving faster than you are.
For example, do you want to give the person you’re talking with your full attention? To really take in what they’re saying, how they look as they say it, what’s on their mind, how they feel… And not plan tomorrow in between, quickly check your phone for messages, and on and on. That takes effort, but it feels so good when you stick with it! You’ll be amazed at how much beauty and meaning you can discover in moments like these!
2. Start well: the morning ritual
How do you start your day? Roll out of bed after hitting snooze for the tenth time, slurp toothpaste, brush your teeth with coffee and then rush out of the house?
I start the day with a little ritual. Coffee, a Bible passage, prayer and a short meditation. That way, the day doesn’t start in a rush. Instead, at least at the start, I can connect with myself, and with my God. That does me good, sets the right priorities and lets me begin the day in a completely different way. No matter how full or exhausting it gets.
A ritual like that can take 5 or 30 minutes. It can look like mine, or be sportier, more musical or something else entirely. Whatever form it takes. The main thing is that it helps you ground yourself, truly connect with yourself and start the day focused.
Life with a full tank
Anyone who keeps jetting through life in the fast lane will run out of gas at some point.
But since a life like that is supposed to last as long as possible, it’s pretty helpful to make sure your tank stays full.
These two little tools help me with that. Maybe they’ll help you too? We’d love to hear from you. What helps you ground yourself? And how do you fill your tank? Write to us about your experiences at andy@thepulse.org.
