Slow down, move forward

A slower pace is needed to start re-building and re-focusing

The greatest thing you can do for yourself is slow down. It’s how you build confidence. I used to think there was no correlation between slowing down and believing more in yourself, but I’ve recently lived it out firsthand. And this time, it’s been a deep lesson.

Going at a slower place makes you confident not only in the actions you take, but that you can even slow down in the first place. And no, slowing down doesn’t mean you’re giving up. If anything, it means you’re ready-ing yourself to let God propel you forward so that you can create big things, help others and design a life that’s truly meant for you.

So, how do you become the person that’s willing to overcome challenges (physical or mental) by slowing down and embracing that those challenges are actually lessons?

Start with appreciating where you are

You’ve likely heard this a million times, so it’s probably easy to overlook this first point. But really get to understand the value in admiring your current circumstances. Everything you have now is a tool you can use to build.

And by build, I mean literally anything. A business, a network, a strong relationship with yourself, etc.

I’m not complaining here, but the past 6 months have been emotionally tough. I recently got out of a year-long relationship and I feel like I lost myself (sharing this because you guys are my friends too). Long story short, I adopted habits from someone else that weren’t really good for me and this completely changed how I viewed myself up to the point where I lost some momentum when it came to building online. I also stopped the habit I had of constantly appreciating what I had around me which likely contributed to me losing momentum.

Anywho, when you’re in the habit of appreciating, you get to see the brighter side in things.

You aren’t worried about whether or not every little step you’re taking is right or wrong. You just act because you know that no matter what, you’ll also appreciate the outcomes of those actions you’re taking.

Your thoughts are just that… thoughts

There’s nothing to resent about your thoughts. Your thoughts are telling you something about yourself or your situation that you need to pay attention to.

You have all the power given to you by God to choose which thoughts you give authority to and which you don’t. Equally, you get to say “no” to some thoughts and “yes” to others.

Even if you aren’t thinking about something that you don’t agree with (or don’t want to think about), you are still in control of your mind.

If you focus on number 1 (appreciating where you are), you’re able to spend more time upstream and your thoughts are going to resonate with that.

The more you’re upstream, the more you’re able to think clearly about the things you’re working on, or that you’re trying to build.

There’s a reason for everything

Nothing is inherently wrong about this moment. Everything is happening for a reason. There is literally a lesson in everything. No matter what’s happening, you have got to see the brighter side in things.

You are stronger than the circumstances that you’re in. Plus, life wouldn’t even be fun if challenges didn’t happen to us.

Strength is executing, not just learning

Whether you’re starting a business, or you’re trying to change the circumstances in your life overall and you’re in a learning mode, don’t just learn.

Execute.

There’s strength in executing because that’s how you gain proof for yourself that you can do something and get results.

Don’t just stay stuck watching YouTube videos about tutorials for how to do something or how to establish some sort of credibility. It’s exciting to go through difficult periods in your life, where you’re unsure about things, but you’re still able to execute.

Don’t be overly analytical about how you execute either. Even if you execute and you don’t feel confident, the more you execute the more you’re going to feel confident about yourself over a long period of time.

For example, recently I was criticizing myself for not writing as much. I just realized that I had to just rest.

To understand things in my life in a certain way that would propel my writing even more once I do feel ready to start writing again.

But when things like that happen, embrace the way you’re executing by understanding that you’re probably not executing the way you’re used to because things are changing for you. And change is good–really good.