This was really meaningful to me. I’ve been finding myself in the same situation you described…body in one place, mind already thinking of all the other things to do. It’s not a good feeling. Thank you for speaking to this and offering a way to change the perspective. Your bulb vases are beautiful! Also, I love the podcast.
In the past year or so, I remember reading someone's point that sounds obvious in retrospect but was really helpful for me:
You can *feel* impatient but still *act* patient. Your feelings don't need to dictate your behavior. Someone even might call you a patient person based on your behavior even while internally your experience is unenjoyable (although ideally you'd find a way to enjoy the circumstances too).
That is very interesting, because I've been thinking about this from the opposite point of view: is it possible for me to move quickly (so physically rushing through things) while staying mentally unhurried? I've tried to do this when I'm running around in the morning, trying to prep breakfast, grab coffee, pack up my stuff, get showered before my hour-long commute. Can I do all of this quickly while still feeling calm?
For me, the answer has been no, which is kind of a surprise. I cannot rush without feeling rushed. I think it comes down to the mind and body being really one thing, and "hurry" is such a powerful stressor that it's very easy for it to move from one to the other.
I think you're right that it is possible to feel impatient and act patient though! And maybe acting patient can help us feel more patient too? I have noticed that when I physically slow down and stop moving around like a headless chicken, my thoughts slow too.
Those little glass jars you have your bulbs in are very cool 💜. I hope your bulbs grow!
I know, I love them! I always keep an eye out for bulb vases at thrift stores, but they're hard to find.
This was really meaningful to me. I’ve been finding myself in the same situation you described…body in one place, mind already thinking of all the other things to do. It’s not a good feeling. Thank you for speaking to this and offering a way to change the perspective. Your bulb vases are beautiful! Also, I love the podcast.
I'm glad it resonated, Melanie! This is something I've really been working on lately, that feeling of always living in the future.
In the past year or so, I remember reading someone's point that sounds obvious in retrospect but was really helpful for me:
You can *feel* impatient but still *act* patient. Your feelings don't need to dictate your behavior. Someone even might call you a patient person based on your behavior even while internally your experience is unenjoyable (although ideally you'd find a way to enjoy the circumstances too).
That is very interesting, because I've been thinking about this from the opposite point of view: is it possible for me to move quickly (so physically rushing through things) while staying mentally unhurried? I've tried to do this when I'm running around in the morning, trying to prep breakfast, grab coffee, pack up my stuff, get showered before my hour-long commute. Can I do all of this quickly while still feeling calm?
For me, the answer has been no, which is kind of a surprise. I cannot rush without feeling rushed. I think it comes down to the mind and body being really one thing, and "hurry" is such a powerful stressor that it's very easy for it to move from one to the other.
I think you're right that it is possible to feel impatient and act patient though! And maybe acting patient can help us feel more patient too? I have noticed that when I physically slow down and stop moving around like a headless chicken, my thoughts slow too.