I am a huge proponent of moving forward with purpose while moving at our own pace. Like the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, I find that when I move forward at my own inner purposeful pace, I am more likely to achieve my goal… with an added bonus of enjoying the journey.
Today, all of us gathered in my office to achieve a common goal. Yet from the moment we began working, each of us had to run our own race at our own pace. This involved choosing tasks appropriate to our individual strengths, and settling into the task at hand with intention and pace.
To be successful, you have to do what works for you. For example, have you ever gone to an outdoor swimming pool at the end of the season? The nights are colder and naturally so is the water. How we get into chilly water is quite personal. Some people find it best to dive right in. They take the shock all at once, and for them this works. Others get in the water inch by inch. While still others avoid the process all together.
When it comes to cold water, I’m a big weenie. The only way I can handle the cold temperature is by getting in slowly, at my own pace, and in my own unique style. At the end of last summer, to prolong outdoor lap swimming at my favorite LifeTime Fitness gym, I perfected a three-step approach. Here’s how it goes: First, I settle into the hot tub until the heat warms up my core temperature. Next, I ease into the indoor pool, which is colder than the hot tub, but warmer than the outdoor pool. Finally, I slip into the outdoor lap pool.
While some may laugh at my peculiar style, it works for me. Not only do I take ownership of taking care of my needs, I also achieve my goal of swimming and enjoying the water for several more weeks.
Finding your own pace entails stopping for a moment, taking several deep breaths, and bringing into focus the bigger picture of what you want to accomplish. It then requires feeling inward, sensing your intuition, and taking your next step in a way that works best for you.
No matter what action we are involved in, whether it is climbing a mountain, quitting smoking, ending overeating, overcoming depression, or painting a room, we have to find our purpose and our own pace. Different people take life at different speeds and one way is not necessarily superior to another. What matters most is knowing what actions and challenges are important to our true authentic self, and honoring our own process to the finish line.
Today’s Invitation: Are you running your race or running someone else’s race? Notice if you are letting others set the pace. If so, you are probably ignoring your own needs, intuition, and unique ability to get the job done.
Also, are you running around with great ideas in your head? If so, find the courage to leap and bring those ideas into reality. But, do so at your own pace, with purpose, and with your own unique style!
P.S. If you’re going through change yourself, or if you have any helpful inspiration, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Your insights may be just the light of hope or help that someone else is searching for.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
thk U so much for the reminder to do things @ your own pace. very encouraging and validating. CIPYTWEET
Thanks for your comment cipytweet!
I was once playing chess with my husband Ray. There I was playing my own game, enjoying myself, trusting myself, and things were going well. Then he gained the upper hand. I noticed that instead of using instinct and intuition, I began to play a reactionary game. As quickly as I noticed that I was no longer running my own race at my own pace, I lost the game. It was a very valuable experience. I discovered that playing life in a defensive or reactionary position never ends up well for me!
I find it very aggravating when I am doing something at my own pace and someone is telling me to hurry up! Unless it is a matter of life or death, I don’t see the big deal. So, go away and leave me alone.
This being said, I try to avoid situations where I know beforehand that I will refuse to “hurry up”. If I don’t, then I know I will lose my cool. My husband has no patience when it comes to playing cards especially with friends. He is also a poor loser.
Any advice?
You bring up a good point Kathleen. Sometimes people don’t agree with our pace, or like to ridicule us for doing things differently than they would do them. What I’ve learned is that it’s important for me to know what I want, to take care of my needs while meeting my goal, and moving forward with purpose.
As for playing cards with your husband, how about suggesting he become a better card player. That way, he wont’ be a poor loser
I know for me my pace determines how I feel about the outcome of whatever it is that I am trying to acheive. Just this morning I accomplished my goal of leaving for work on time but I rushed around this morning so that while I acheived my goal of leaving on time it didn’t feel so great. Tomorrow I will leave on time and move at my own pace in the morning so that I am relaxed when it is time to go to work. It really is all about the journey to your goal, not just the goal itself.
That’s a great observation Adrienne. Thanks for sharing. You’ll have to let us all know how your morning routine is progressing.
“One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.”
~ Henry Miller