You ever notice that we tend to live in a world of rushing—moving quickly to get from point A to point B, to get something done or to hurry to a next “thing” in our lives. Most of us see this everyday and many of us experience it first-hand most days. We are rushing out the door to get to work or school, to make an appointment on-time, to finish a project, take care of housework, etc.

For some it materializes in impatience—minor impatience when having to wait in line somewhere to major impatience such as can’t wait to finish school, wrap up a major project or get through some life event or experience.

There are many variations on the meaning of the word rushing—including trying to do many things or to go to a lot of places in a short period of time. But the one that caught my attention is from Vocabulary.com, which is: the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner.

Why it caught my attention was the piece about “in a careless manner.” If you are rushing to be somewhere, get something done, be someone different, etc., you can get so caught up in the action that you are not paying attention to where you are now and you get distracted by or tangled up in thoughts of some future state. That adrenaline surge from rushing around can disrupt your focus (not to mention raise your blood pressure and heart rate, as well a cortisol levels). All in all—not good. Lighted Tree Field

We know that it is not good for us. We tell ourselves to relax, breath and to be patient, but we still do it—find ourselves rushing. We, in a sense, are rushing our life story—somehow thinking that if we can just fast forward to “done” on some things we will be able to move on or forward, relax or be calm or be in some overall better state. We are caught up in a future-focused mentality (and society). But for a moment think about what you are doing to yourself when you rush, and why you are rushing.

Some of it is culture—most of us live in a society that celebrates the overachievers and the high-flyers, and live in environments that expect growth, development and progress to happen overnight. It is instilled in us from a very young age to be on-time (if not early) and that somehow where we need to be or evolve to is more important than where we are right now at any given moment or who we are.

Yes, change and evolution is good (in fact, a constant), but rushing is not healthy. Think about it, when you are rushing around and through life it can be exhausting and draining. You are pushing against time, in a state of resistance and disregarding the present moment.  In short, you are not present when you are rushing.

So why do we do it? Some of it is habit. There is sort of this high or “rush” from rushing. It subconsciously is habitual or even addictive. It could be we are trying to avoid something—if we are not still we are distracted and do not have to address what we need to reflect upon. It could be that we are giving in to other’s judgments. If we are always in a state of urgency we are important and therefore more valued. We may have some ingrained belief that we need to compete and if we get somewhere first we have won, or we rush because we think it will be better where we are going.

When you feel yourself rushing, stop and take a breath and ask yourself “why?” Let go of that inner rush and appreciate where you are, be compassionate to yourself and let yourself get back to the moment. Not everything needs immediate attention. Allow yourself to take in where you are. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “We are always getting ready to live but never living.” Being right where you are is living.