Following the discussion on changing our thoughts, we need to learn to recognize what thoughts habitually come to mind and how to be more selective in what we choose to think.  We are trained to make decisions quickly—survival/primal instinct, the need to be first, jumping on an opportunity.  We rarely think of the value in slowing down.  The world is so connected now that we have little opportunity to slow our pace—don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful thing to have the access we do, but we still operate like it’s a commodity.  We still behave as if our decisions are based on what’s best for us alone instead of working together.  We miss the mark when we use old thinking or old patterns of behavior.  We need to remember the value in slowing down.

This is another pattern that takes time to get comfortable with, to develop.  We don’t need to be first, we need to learn to make the decision that is right.  We are familiar with the idea that just because that’s how it was always done doesn’t mean we have to keep doing it that way.  Often we do it that way simply because that was how the first person to get there did it.  Time changes, we evolve, and there are other ways to do things that may be more efficient or streamlined or safer.  This also ties into something we’ve talked about: the value of the pause. 

I don’t claim it’s an easy thing to do because we are designed to follow the path of least resistance.  We are designed to follow patterns.  The key is realizing when those patterns aren’t cutting it any longer.  We were gifted with instinct and intuition based on feeling and those are the things that will tell us when something is off.  That’s when we know we need to pay attention because there’s a chance that there’s a different way.  Look at the goal and ask if there’s a way we can achieve it while maintaining balance in our lives.  Is there a way to achieve more than one goal at once?  Are there resources we hadn’t previously tapped into?  Are there people who can help we hadn’t thought of?  Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing our idea. 

There’s a time and place for quick thinking but there are more opportunities for detailed thought, purposeful thinking than we give ourselves time for.  Time is an illusion and when we rush we create waste.  Clearly I’m not talking about emergent situations, we need the ability to do both critical thought and detailed planning, but I’m talking about removing unnecessary stress from making rapid fire decisions all day.  We have room to breathe.  It’s amazing the space that becomes available when you allow it.  When you make room for it, time can enter your life because the things that are important to you take priority.  It’s safe to slow down.  We aren’t designed to operate at high speeds 24/7.  Take your time.