Not Everything Is an Emergency: How to Stop Rushing Through Life
Do you ever wonder how to stop rushing through life when even ordinary days can feel like an emergency? Maybe no one else is rushing you, but inside, everything feels urgent.
Recently, I was looking back through my planner and noticed four words I’d written to myself several weeks earlier:
Breathe and move slowly.
I don’t even remember what was happening that particular day, but apparently I needed the reminder. And honestly, I still do.
I can catch myself rushing through something as ordinary as washing dishes—not because there’s an actual emergency, but because I’m already thinking about everything that needs to happen next. My mind is racing, my body is trying to keep up, and I’m moving through the day with a sense of urgency that no one else has placed on me.
Nobody is rushing me. I’m rushing myself.
What Is Underneath Our Hurry?
As I started thinking about why I do this, I realized there was something deeper underneath my hurry.
I’m afraid of getting behind.
Especially in my business, I can be afraid that if I don’t keep moving, I’ll miss an opportunity. I won’t get where I’m trying to go. I’ll never arrive.
And underneath even that was a harder admission:
What if I do all of this for nothing?
Psalm 31:15 says:
“My times are in Your hand.”
If I really believe my time—and ultimately the outcome of my work—is in God’s hands, I don’t have to frantically hurry my way toward wherever I think I’m supposed to be.
I can work diligently without living frantically.
Maybe We Never Really Arrive
In this episode, I share how thinking about Moses and his years leading Israel through the wilderness challenged the way I think about success, faithfulness and “arriving.”
Because honestly, we never really arrive.
There’s always another goal, another project, another responsibility or another season.
Maybe the better question isn’t:
Am I there yet?
Maybe it’s:
Am I faithfully walking where God has me today?
A Simple Sunday Brain Dump
One practical rhythm that has helped me quiet some of the noise in my head is something I’ve been doing for about 20 months: my Sunday Brain Dump.
I get everything that’s taking up space in my mind onto paper—appointments, responsibilities, errands, ideas, family commitments, work and all those little things I’m afraid I’ll forget.
Then I can begin deciding what actually needs my attention.
Because just because I thought of something doesn’t mean it needs to happen right now.
I’ve created a simple FREE Sunday Brain Dump so you can try the same practice.
Get your FREE Sunday Brain Dump here.
Maybe you don’t need to get everything done today.
Maybe you can breathe.
Maybe you can move slowly.
And maybe you can take the next faithful step and trust Him with where it leads.
Scripture: Psalm 31:15
Until next time, friend, take the next faithful step and trust Him with where it leads.
And as always, cherish the meaningful moments.