My addiction to speed.
Okay, okay. It’s not what you?might?be thinking!
I’m talking about?the need to over-achieve, the constant ‘busy, busy, busy’, rushing around, multitasking, juggling all the plates, whilst riding a unicycle and jumping through hoops which are on fire. That kind of speed.
The thing is, this?‘can’t stop, won’t stop’?attitude led to my world crashing down back in 2014. Major burnout hit. I was upset and exhausted.
I’d been going too fast to notice what was happening in the present moment. And I was making mistakes, not looking after myself, and damaging friendships and relationships.
Going fast is addictive. Just think of Maverick from TopGun with his ‘need for speed’. The world we live in today doesn’t really help either.
I was?linking my busyness to self-worth.?If I wasn’t constantly achieving, then I obviously wouldn’t be happy. At least that’s what my hyper-achiever brain was telling me.
You’ll be pleased to hear I’m in recovery, and healing from “my addiction to speed”. But it is a life’s work and a daily practice for me.
After reading about our?“compulsive impatience”?in?Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman,?I acknowledge that I have slowed down a lot over the last few years. From 110mph to about 30/40mph. Although the other day, I did notice that I was still stopping the microwave before it had even finished :)
Phew, slow down.?Is a nice reminder to have, right?
We live in a society that is addicted to speed. Everything around us is trying to get us to go faster, so it is no wonder...
And a lot of my clients are addicted to speed too.
Slowing down is possible.
In a coaching session, I slow down time for people. It’s time to be. To think. To process. To be present. To stop and uncover the human truth of who you really are.
In the Positive Intelligence work?I do with clients, we learn to constantly slow our own pace within the hectic, fast-paced world we are in.
The pause.?The PQ rep (a mental fitness exercise my clients and I do). Allows us to gain perspective, a more measured response, a sage reaction to life’s challenges.
When we pause, it allows us to see opportunities that are right by our feet. Beauty, joy, signals from the universe. We don’t see this stuff when on the 110mph superhighway. We fly past the junction. Whoosh!
So let's collectively slow down.
When you slow...
(take a breath)
You see...
(take a breath)
领英推荐
What’s going on...
(take a breath)
Then you see...
(take a breath)
Your next step.
PIVOT POINT: Coaching can help you slow your pace for a moment to understand what success really is for you and to develop your strategy for change.?
COACHING PROMPTS:?Are you a speed addict? If so, I see you. It’s not easy to slow down. Yet, what would it be like if you did??
Thanks for reading today. I love hearing your thoughts, comments and pivot situations. Reply, say hi, and let me know how you are getting on. And if you want to slow down, I am ready to listen. Drop me a DM, and let's talk about 1:1 coaching.
To your pivot,?
Liz
Founder and Coach at Slick Pivot
I help ambitious founders and leaders get good at change, so that they can achieve success AND find flow in work and life, through strategic, practical coaching and improved mental fitness.
Ways to work with me:
1. Hire me as your 1:1 coach?If you are ready to pivot to more happiness and growth, I'll take good care of you. You'll have me as your pivot partner for regular, confidential coaching conversations every two weeks to work on your business, leadership or career.?
2. Book a Mental Fitness session for your whole team. Your team is growing, success, (and pressure) is in the air. You’d love to support them in their resilience. Book me for a 1-hour keynote or a 3-hour interactive session.?
Drop me a DM with your needs, and we can organise a call.?