Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still.
Chinese Proverb
I’ve read this proverb many times over the years, but late last night I ran across it again and it stopped me. It made me pay attention and then look within.
There’s a difference between stillness of observation and the stillness of indecision. Some people fear failure so they cling to the thought of doing everything in perfection, and the result is, they rarely complete and accomplish anything because they spend too much time frozen, contemplating the what-ifs of making decisions that aren’t perfect. That is a death by billions of tiny, perfect cuts.
We can be still to calm our emotions and regain clarity. When we get into trouble is when our stillness becomes self-imposed paralysis. When we allow fear to rule and become our god, and we surrender all hope and dreams to the chaos that fear churns.
Even in hiding, we must plan and eventually execute, our movement elsewhere. To be free we must move away from where we are trapped, enslaved, etc.
Going slowly is still movement; you are still accomplishing more than if you do nothing. We don’t rush baked foods or the slow-cooked meats. We allow the time for the flavors to interact and come together in harmony, which is what we taste bite after bite.
Just as moving too fast in a relationship can cause us to spiral and crash, when we don’t move in our relationship, it dies. It truly is like a marathon.
Progress is better than stagnation. Make each step. Lay each brick. Write each word. Hammer one nail and then the next. Create, test, and try again. Build as you climb.
Don’t look back. Don’t compare your journey to others. Don’t even compare this path to any you took before. Be present and grateful in each moment, because once the moment passes it is gone and can’t be reclaimed. Journal about the experiences, lessons, blessings, and how you would like to impart your newfound knowledge to others.
Stop reading. You understand now. It’s time to…
MOVE!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Natasha
Natasha 