Live at your own pace
have you been running for all your life?
you keep walking and walking (why?)
something tells you that you can’t afford to stop (what?)
most of the time just to be ahead of others (who?)
to the certain destination (where?)
but certainly not the last (when?)
As a grown-up adult, one should definitely seek a quality of life that one finds is satisfying. More often than not, we measure the said quality by the money we have in our bank accounts or the social titles we hold. We are constantly rushed to live by those ‘social’ milestones that were set according to generic stereotypes or cultural expectations. This pressure from our surroundings produces unnecessary stress and negative thinking.
If you feel this stress and negativity too, here is what you should keep in mind:
Always be aware that we are individually unique with different passions, talents, family backgrounds, financial support, etc.
Any decision in your life is like a venture and every venture has its cost. People carry different weights of risks due to certain circumstances. Some got more money. Some got more connections. Some got more skills. Risk-taking requires holistic considerations. Consequently, some people can take more risk than others. That’s why we can never walk at the same pace. When you are constrained by some factors, you either choose to run with unstable legs or walk at more stable pace. There are always limitations, but they are not meant to be there forever. As we walk, we gradually overcome limitations, one by one. So keep going at your own pace, with your current capacity. You will be there eventually.
Learn to be more content based on the progress you have made in your life compared to your own self, and not to other peoples’ success.
With any chapter of your life, you made some progress. Reflect on your progress and digest how far you have come. People call it self-awareness. In this case, be aware of your gains. You worked to earn it, appreciate! You will never be satisfied if you keep compare your position to others’. Because we’re not identical. Some walk fast, some walk slowly but steadily. Does it really matter if someone is ahead of you? This is not a race. Even if it is, you only have yourself as a contestant. As long as you make a progress your old self did not, you’re winning.
The speed of becoming successful does not matter, as long as you get to your destination. The important thing is to enjoy the experiences along the way.
Success is over-hyped. Yes, it is powerful and rewarding. However, it is not there to rush you. Undeniably, everyone wants to succeed. But we all face different obstacles, and we have our own way to overcome them. It is what you get to experience that pushes you forward. Being human is beautifully mysterious by nature. Even if you go through the same experience as someone else, you possibly perceive it differently due to your unique background and previous experience. Remember that nothing can rush you, yet nothing can stop you either. Keep learning and thriving. So, enjoy the journey, it is as fulfilling as the destination.
This is inspired from the writing I did for a daily trivial email distributed to my peer students. They’re such young and energetic kids. Sadly, many of them seemed so lost, they were pressured to do what they’re doing. They didn’t know why they did or what is the reward they actually want. I wanted to shade some light on areas they should reconsider as I wish them an enjoyable and purposeful journey.
