098 – The Calm
Backstory
I am terrible at swimming. It’s a great workout because I spend all my energy and air trying not to drown.
What a recipe for continued failure! (I’ll come back to this in a moment)
But I am determined, that just like running long distances that I too can tackle the water. It may never look pretty but perhaps I can practice enough to not be such a liability in the water.
To give you a background story. I am unable to float. I quit swimming lessons in the fifth grade because I was taking swim lessons with the kindergartners. They could pass by floating on their backs, I would slowly sink to the bottom, with my lungs filled to the brim with air.
So now in my 30s, I’m determined to beat this. So to the pool I go, twice a week to swim 250-300 meters each time.
And today finally I had the revelation.
- I’m not going to drown. So stop swimming to not drown. Swim for fun. Relax and be in the moment.
- I’m not going to drown. (I had to repeat this over and over in my head actually)
It worked! I was able for the first time ever, swim without a break from one end to the other! I didn’t have to stop and catch my breath. I didn’t have to stop because I inhaled water!
By slowing down, I was able to speed up. By realizing I wasn’t going to drown, I was able to focus on the joy in the moment.
Imagine how I’m going to apply this to business? My marriage? My spirituality?
Action Steps
- Where in your life are you “swimming not to drown”? Meaning, working or doing to not fail?
- Across the areas of your life, what would be possible if you actually slowed down to speed up?