Recently, a friend came over and made a simple observation that landed deeply: they told me I scurry quickly through the house, moving in and out of rooms, always doing something—and then gently encouraged me to sit down and relax. At the time, my mom was in respite care, and I had the space to breathe, but their words made me pause.
A few days later, I caught myself doing it again. I was moving from one task to the next—I wanted to open the back door, then burn sage. As I lit the sage, I noticed how fast I was breathing. My body felt tired, and I suddenly became aware of how rushed I felt. Even in my own home, with no real urgency, I was still moving like I was on someone else’s timeline.
This feeling isn’t new. As a child, I moved slowly—slow to wake up, slow to speak, slow to get ready. It was just how I was. But I was constantly met with impatience. People would shout, “Hurry up!” or “You’re too slow!” I learned to speed up, not because I wanted to, but because I thought I had to in order to be accepted, to avoid shame, to feel safe.
Even now, I see how those early messages shaped my nervous system. I still rush, even when there’s no need. And sometimes, when I’m not moving fast enough, my mom will make a face or suck her teeth—and I feel that same old trigger rise in me. But now I’m learning to notice it. I’m practicing how to pause and choose a different response.
These days, when I feel that rushed energy taking over, I stop. I place my hand on my heart, take a breath, and remind myself:
There is no rush. I am on my own timeline.
I’m also learning to speak from a grounded place using “I am” statements—statements that affirm who I am now, not who I was taught I had to be.
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Affirmations for Reclaiming Your Pace
• I am allowed to move slowly.
• I am not behind. I am right on time.
• I am safe when I move at my own pace.
• I am releasing the need to rush.
• I am choosing calm over urgency.
• I am honoring my body’s rhythm.
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A Simple Grounding Ritual for When You Feel Rushed
1. Pause – Stop what you’re doing, even just for 30 seconds.
2. Breathe – Inhale slowly for a count of 4, hold for 2, exhale for 6. Repeat 3 times.
3. Place your hand on your chest – Feel the rise and fall of your breath.
4. Affirm – Silently say to yourself: I am safe. I am here. I am allowed to take my time.
5. Resume with intention – Ask yourself, What truly needs my attention right now? Then move forward gently.
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This practice of slowing down is not just about rest—it’s about reclaiming the part of me that was never given permission to move at her own pace. And now, I give myself that permission every single day.
