The Power of Slowing Down: Taking Time for Careful Consideration

Posted on December 05, 2023 by Jeffrey Besecker, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

ey there, fellow adventurers on the bumpy road of life! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the stormy seas of anticipatory anxiety. Yep, that’s right, that delightful knot-in-the-stomach feeling we get when we’re about to make a big decision or set a new goal. But don’t worry; we’ve got each others backs!

I’ll confess something: I’m the queen of second-guessing, and this translates to our ability to simply question, like a two year old on a field trip in the forested woods, seeing the world for the first time….you know the one — curiously asking, why, why, WHY….

Why is the sky blue? Why do clouds float? Why do catapillars turn into butterflies? Our answers start with way.

Seriously, if questioning and second-guessing was an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. But hey, we’re all in this together, right? So, grab a cup of tea, or coffee, or a chocolate milkshake (because why not?), and let’s talk about how to tame that anxiety monster while we navigate our way to brighter horizons:

The Anticipatory Anxiety Rollercoaster

Let’s face it — setting goals and making decisions can be like boarding a rollercoaster of anticipation. You strap in, and your mind starts doing somersaults. “What if it goes wrong? What if I mess up? What if, what if, WHAT IF?” It’s like our brain’s hit the panic button — and sometimes we freeze (insert some sciency stuff, but more about that later).

Here’s the chocolate sauce (who likes secrets): It’s okay to feel this way! Anticipatory anxiety is like our brain’s way of saying, “Hey, this thing matters to us!” So, don’t beat your ‘self’ up for feeling it.

Let’s Embrace the Awkward

Have you ever tried walking into a room and totally misjudging the number of steps it takes to reach the door? Or is that just me? Awkward moments happen. Mistakes happen. And you know what? It’s okay! We’re all consciousness, pretending to be human, and it’s all part of this material journey — we are just ENERGY, after all!

When it comes to decision-making and goal-setting, expect some awkward moments. It’s like dancing in the dark; we might step on a few toes. But those missteps often lead to the most brilliant moves.

Accept the What-If Brigade

The What-If Brigade is that gang of hypothetical scenarios that haunts the brain (and body — they are soulmates) as subconscious scripts when you’re making decisions. They come up with scenarios like, “What if I fail?” or “What if I look silly?” But guess what? The What-If Brigade is just consciousness considering its own potential!

So, acknowledge them and give them a cheeky wave. Then open to the reminder that we’ve totally got this!(Here’s a curious nugget: separation is an illusion and consciousness has our backs, fronts, and all the sides in-between — metaphysics, right?!? ) Plus, those ‘what-ifs’ are not set in stone. Life’s full of surprises, synchronicities, and serendipitous instances, and some of them might be fabulous. Certainty doesn’t offer us a menu of intriguing options, anyway.

Mind the Expectation Gap

Ah, the infamous expectation gap! It’s the space between what we hope will happen and what actually happens. It’s where unhealthy assumptions, expectations, and disappointments can lurk. But here’s a little secret: Embrace the gap. It’s where growth, resilience, and life’s most valuable lessons are live. Us and that GAP are one….

Be a Compassionate Explorer

When we’re embarking on the journey through decision-making and goal-setting, don’t forget to be kind, and embrace gratitude. Give your ‘self’ a break! (better yet, retire it…it keeps you separate from love anyway. ) Everything comes to us in as we unfold. We’re all just explorers navigating the territory of possibility.

So, let’s be compassionate explorers, shall we? Acknowledge and vulnerably accept healthy fears, make friends with anxiety, and wear the quirks like a badge of honor. It’s what makes us all beautifully, unapologetically conscious energetic beings.

The Light Inside

Remember, there’s a light inside all of us. Everything is ENERGY, and energy is LIGHT! Even when the path seems dark, it’s there to be a guide. So, when those clouds of anticipatory anxiety gather, let the inner light shine. Embrace the quirks, the perception of mistakes, and the goofy, serendipitous, unexpected moments that inspire and light us all up.

In the end, decision-making and goal-setting are NOT about avoiding anxiety — it’s about dancing with it. So, let’s waltz with the imperfections, twirl with the fears, and cha-cha with anything that can be conceived. Together, we make this journey extraordinary.

So remember, things can get a little ‘iffy’ and if forms a complete question that opens us up to new answers and solutions. There will be times, when we feel ACTION is the next best step, and also times when INACTION is our best friend, as we ponder the next MEANINGFUL step….

Meanwhile, you can take a tip from our wise friend, Kathy Hadizadeh, about how slowing down, pausing, and taking time to consider — can be our greatest form of empowerment when making decisions, setting goals, and orchestrating well-laid plans.

Listen up:

Episode #169
The LIght Inside

The Power of Slowing Down: Taking Time for Careful Consideration