Name some things in life that slow you down. It’s not just traffic; though that can be a real nuance sometime, or, twice a day…, everyday. But there are other things in life that slow you down as well. Waiting for other people to finish their piece of a project so you can get started on your piece. Solving a problem that just won’t resolve. Depression/Anger (flip a coin). Conflicting class schedules. Delayed Passports, flight departures, turkey’s baking, kids, retarded gas-pumps, check-out lines, Bank processes, taxi’s, broken down equipment (tractors, oil rigs, irrigation pumps, hydraulic compressors, pens that run out of ink), kids again, and, of course, traffic.

Then, at some point along the journey we call life, we find out we are slowing ourselves down. Getting stuck in a job, afraid to move forward. Fear of failure. Lackadaisical about learning—we just quit thinking. Emotional grey-toned—no passion for anything, anyone, nada. We find ourselves living with a total lack of interest or energy for anything: truly, we are merely existing, one foot in front of the other, no deviation from the pattern, day-in, day-out. You come to be at ease with the laborious pace of driving in traffic.  Brake—go. Brake—go. Brake—go. Brake—go.

So, what’s the secret to breaking free from things that slow you down in life? For starters, hit the gas with these ideas—

1.       Frustration—determination—more frustration—resolution—MORE FRUSTRATION—Action! DO something to get moving.

2.       Find a friend, a mate, who will listen, but also advise you, either professionally or personally.

3.       Kick yourself in the, well, you know; and if you’re not up to it, ask someone you trust to do it! Stop whining.

4.       In the Christian Scripture there is some good advice— “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3) An admonishment well heeded.

5.       Learn to overcome fear with either sheer determination or adamant, blind shots-in-the-dark. Both will get you through.

6.       Corroborate with companions, stronger than yourself, who will let you draw on their strength, willingly.

There will always be traffic; there will always be things in life that will slow you down. The trick is to not get stuck.

In closing, as a reward, for those of you with greater ambition, I leave you with this.   And if you have to ask… .

Have a nice week.

Gary