Written by Courtney lynch

Life moves fast. One truth every generation can claim is that the pace of change is faster than it has ever been. What does this constant acceleration mean for people? Could it be that life today is just too fast? After all, humans aren’t machines. What if we’ve reached max capacity for pace and complexity?

We all can relate to being busy, feeling overwhelmed, and exhausted. When we get to these places, we often look inward seeking to identify what we can change. While it’s valuable to practice accountability when our lives aren’t going according to plan, it’s also important to look outward.

There’s something about our society that accepts the fact that to be human is to strive. And when we are striving, seeking, and wanting to achieve, we can often find ourselves in a position where we are trying to control the uncontrollable. We buy into the myth that we can always work to make more happen and discount paths to better that are about letting go, scaling back, or doing less, better.

If your life at home or work feels too fast, here are some questions to reflect on:

  • How does being in a hurry impact your wellness and relationships?
  • What’s scary about slowing down?
  • What great things and not-so-great things fuel your inner drive?

Consider this: If you were standing at the edge of a cliff, would striving to step forward be the best move? North Face founder Doug Tompkins once said, “The hardest thing for a man to do is to turn 180 degrees and take a step forward.” Many of us fear going backward. We have been socialized to think it’s wrong. Yet turning around and doing differently can often be the most magical opportunity. That’s when we can apply wisdom from lessons learned. When you stop striving and allow yourself to step back, reflect, slow down, and discover, you can realize progress in the most fantastic ways.

When fast is fun, go with it. And, when you sense speed might actually be tripping you up, don’t be afraid to consider downshifting. Go, go, go can’t last. And surprisingly, it’s not necessary.

Founded in 2004, Lead Star is the company behind New York Times best-sellers SPARKLeading from the Front, and Bet on You. Lead Star supports professionals to reach new levels of success through its innovative coaching programs.