Where do you feel overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion in your career? Do you have habits you run to when times are tough in your life? Did you lose opportunities because you grew tired of the "grind"?
Professionals are weighing in about an epidemic that's moving across the world: hurry sickness. They define the disease as, "A behavior pattern characterized by continual rushing and anxiousness."
Today's marketplace is full of people who hurry from place to place unable to catch a break from life's troubles. Whether we're running off to pick up the kids from daycare, or a coworker calls out and we have to pull a double, hurry always finds us.
Life throws curveballs, and we often don't know how to handle them. Rosemary Sword and Phillip Zimbardo list the symptoms of hurry sickness:
- You move from one check-out lane to another because you'll save a couple of minutes.
- You count the cars in front of you and change into the lane that moves the fastest.
- You multi-task to the point you forget one of your tasks.
Without a doubt, every professional has experienced these symptoms at least once throughout their career. People are overbusy and live a tired life, which is the new normal in the western world.
Fathers work long nights to make ends meet while they miss out on the precious moments with their kids. Businessmen grumble to their wives about how messy their homes are, unable to empathize because their minds are on the demands of their calendars.
Our society is toxic when we surrender to the hurry of life's demands. We rob ourselves of the peace, gratitude, and success we work to achieve in our lives. Knowing this, professionals take time to value their needs and focus on introspection to achieve success with confidence.
To find a community of confident professionals who can help you overcome the need to hurry, visit our website or apply to join one of our mastermind groups online.
We Kill Ourselves By Hurrying?
"Attention is the beginning of wisdom."
- Mary Oliver
In his book Sabbath, Wayne Muller observes, "A ‘successful’ life has become a violent enterprise. We make war on our bodies, spirits, and communities because we’re fearfully protecting what we have, and don't feel safe to be kind and generous."
Those are life-changing words! Being in a hurry is a form of violence for the soul. People often fail to recognize this fact and pay the price for it. Here are some costs to hurry:
- Irritability - You get annoyed at everything way too easily.
- Hypersensitivity - Minor things quickly escalate to major emotional events.
- Out-Of-Order Priorities - You feel disconnected from your identity and purpose.
- Escape Behaviors - You turn to distractions instead of life-giving behaviors.
- Isolation - You disconnect from others and yourself.
Professionals understand they must pay attention to themselves as much as their professional success. When you pay attention, you become aware of your surroundings. Poet Mary Oliver says, "Attention is the beginning of wisdom."
3 Steps To Overcome Hurry Sickness
In his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer guides us through the process to achieve success by removing hurry from our lives.
1. Acknowledge The Problem
Comer says, "What you give your attention to is the person you become."
Whenever we tackle a project, what's the first thing we need to do? Assess the situation and take steps to address the issues within the dilemma. We find this challenging because we don't like to look at the weak spots in our lives.
Professionals value self-reflection and take immediate action to improve on their faults. They don't wait around, and they take responsibility for everything, regardless of who's at fault.
2. Cast Aside Your Guilt
Frequently, we like to stay in a hurry because we don't want to face something deep down in ourselves. Whether we're running from father wounds, childhood trauma, or fear of failure, we constantly search for something to validate ourselves.
Before you can ever find peace and live confidently towards your success, you must first acknowledge, forgive, and let go of your trauma and unhealthy expectations. Then, you're free to live life and achieve your goals with 100% of your potential!
3. Commit To Your Best Self
John Ortberg says, "Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart." Being in a hurry showcases your priorities, not just your behavior.
In the marketplace, consistent business people always achieve the most success. They know how to arrange their schedules to prioritize profit-producing actions because they first focused on their wellbeing!
Take time to write down your purpose, your values, and what's important to you. Every day, speak out your words once in the morning and the evening. Eliminate any distractions in your life that would take you away from your goals.
As you commit to these principles, your success will start to manifest, and you'll inspire your team to achieve exceptional results. Don't be discouraged if you struggle to eliminate hurry from your life. You will reap the rewards of your labor!
As a confident professional, your energy and motivation will multiply in your life, and the sky becomes the limit. You’ll begin to cherish every second and appreciate even the rough times. Through courage, faith, and patience, you'll achieve your success!
As you work through this, you'll need other professionals who can prioritize your wellbeing to reach outstanding results. Reach out to us at our website and apply to join one of our mastermind groups online.
