“Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.” John Mark Comer 

It feels like Life is going faster and faster. Why are so many people seemingly in so big of a hurry most of the time? Dan Rockwell gives us some excellent insights on creating “Unrushed Moments.”

Guest Post by Dan Rockwell

I felt rushed most of my life. I blame it on pressure to get stuff done. Procrastination feeds pressure. People-pleasing makes it worse. Fear of failure—paired with the need to succeed—is a destructive taskmaster. I’ve learned that life begins in unrushed moments. Hurry doesn’t work. “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” Anonymous Speed is good. Hurry is bad. John Wooden said, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

A person in a rush:

1. Doesn’t have time to care.
2. Misses what’s meaningful.
3. Confuses activity with living.
4. Treats people like tools.
5. Listens without hearing.
6. Makes snap judgments.
7. Chooses speed over meaning.

You Need an Unrushed Moment to…

#1. See People.

People are more than performance. Curiosity requires calm. Hurry can’t see subtlety.
Look to notice, not to judge.

#2. See Yourself.

We hide from ourselves behind speed. Time pressure creates the illusion of importance.

Pro Tip: Practice self-reflection. Read, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership.

#3. Give yourself.

You can’t sprint into showing up for others. When you do, people feel like burdens, not humans.

Your undivided attention is more powerful than advice. Relationships begin when you stop watching the clock.

Ten ways to Create Unrushed Moments:

1. Do one thing at a time.
2. Take a breath before responding.
3. Allow ten minutes between meetings or tasks.
4. Put down your phone.
5. Look around.
6. Stroll occasionally.
7. Schedule whitespace on your calendar.
8. Shift from solving to curiosity.
9. Drink coffee slowly. Taste your food.
10. Say less, listen more.

Bottom line:

Stop counting seconds.
Start making moments.

An unrushed moment is a gift.

Pro Tip: Don’t rush to create unrushed moments.