Are You Rushing, Or Are You Dragging?
You might remember this line from the Oscar-winning film, Whiplash.
“Were you rushing, or were you dragging?”
Fletcher, the teacher screams at Andrew, the student to figure out the tempo or get out of his way. It’s a teaching moment on so many levels.
There’s a lot to be said about boundaries. In particular, how much are we willing to sacrifice our limits in the name of pursuing our goals? And should we, in fact, remove all boundaries when we dedicate ourselves entirely to the big pursuits? I think not.
But this post is about something else…
It’s about the present moment.
“Are you rushing, or are you dragging?”
We spend so much of life revisiting both painful and sweet memories from the past, or imagining what the future might look like, that we often forget to stay grounded in the present moment and appreciate the reality around us in real time.
The only time that we can fully experience, act and even make an impact is in the present moment.
Are you trying to get to the future faster — rushing? What if you confess your feelings to your crush, but they don’t feel the same? Perhaps there’s a way to map out a shortcut to the project and get the executives on board? Ah, one step at a time, what is meant to be will be.
Are you stuck in the library of past memories — dragging? What could have been the outcome if you said this instead of that? Where would you be today if you made a different choice 5 years ago? It’s all in the past, all history now.
Take a look around you — this is the present moment, welcome back!
Being grounded in the present moment is to feel the emotions as they rise up within and be at peace. To acknowledge the many thoughts that bombard your mind relentlessly and toy with them as interesting possibilities instead of heavy verdicts. To meet and greet others with the joy of building something better together, even if just for a meeting.
When you begin to feel out of rhythm with the world, take a moment to breathe in and ask yourself this simple question:
