Don't rush all the time

It is nothing new that we are always in a rush.

It's easy to get caught up in the holiday rush, but what about the rush of everyday life? Life is speeding up, and with it, our inner angst. We want to cram in as much as we can and be productive, but at what cost?

I believe there are several reasons for being in a rush all the time. One could mean it is a habit. Hurry up and don't be late! This is very much true for a German, we do not like to be late to anything, ever. When it comes to eating we take our sweet time.

Stop and smell the coffee, maybe in a diner and take your time.

Another reason may be that we avoid something. We don't want to feel our real feelings or deal with our stuff. Constant movement is a distraction to deeper, underlying feelings that cause us dis-ease and discomfort. We fear other people's judgments and perceptions of us. When we constantly exude a sense of urgency, we feel valuable in the eyes of others.

Wait! I need to get on.

We feel the pressure: We feel a constant pressure to perform. This can come from the voice of our parents or society, where we feel we need "to do" in order to "be loved." We feel the need to hurry up and cram everything, in order to feel worthy of love. This can come from people-pleasing and the need to prove ourselves. A false perception: The idea that the grass is greener somewhere else. The future is better than now. We feel like we're missing opportunities by slowing down.

Never be late to a Grum Set. You will miss out on all the great tunes.

Knowing what is causing us to push alleviates the pressure that comes from rushing. If you don't know, you can simply stop. Stop and take a breath. Invite some space in. Acknowledge to yourself, "I know I'm rushing right now," and invite yourself back to the present moment. It's a good time to practice self-compassion, and compassion for others who are cutting you off on the freeway!