Last year one of my 18 for 2018 goals was to remind myself to slow down. And I did. Kinda.
I set up a Google Calendar reminder that pinged me daily with “Slow down.”
I’ll confess: every day, my reaction was basically:
Then, this year, out of nowhere (it wasn’t even a goal!), I chose a theme word: Comfort.
And guess what?
Totally slowed me down.
It turns out, I need something to aim for, rather than something simply to avoid.
This should be surprising to no one.
Give me a target (comfort), and I’ll try to hit it (within reason; I’m not gonna do something awful just cuz someone suggests it).
The result: I’ve been taking it easier this year (mostly — there’ve also been some fantastic failures already) because I’m targeting comfort.
So if you’re one of those Achiever / Upholder types, I invite you to benefit from my year of slowing-down failure.
Reframe a vague goal about slowing down to smell the roses into a targeted positive goal. (Take 5 deep breaths. Find comfort. Stand up and stretch.)
It’s weird how enticing the slowing-down becomes, once it’s stated as a target (comfort!) to aim for.
Any other Achiever / Upholders out there who’ve experienced this kind of brain jujitsu? What other tips do you have?