6: Chasing Dreams Isn't All Running
When It's Time to Catch Your Breath
My 2024 was filled with transition, adventure, and hustle. I went through that year at more than full speed, never taking a moment to actually wind down or properly reflect on what had happened. Busy chasing every experience I could collect, wanting to take it all in. It was a season of experimenting and enjoying, of rather risking a lesson than living with regret. Doing it for the plot, you could say – and damn, that chapter turned out great.
I spent more than a quarter of the year abroad solo travelling, which led to many beautiful stories I will cherish for a lifetime. No matter what I did or where I was, I got to meet incredible people along the way who’ve been enriching my life ever since. Besides that, I discovered my love for surfing and outdoor climbing. At home, I hustled through my university semesters the fastest way I could, worked parallel to that and tried to spend as much quality time with friends and family as possible, all while navigating a long-term healing process from having major surgery at the beginning of the year. Saying that it was a lot is an understatement, but while it lasted, I didn’t see it. My biggest fear at that time was potentially missing out on something, which kept me on the high drive – until a couple weeks ago, when I stood on my sunny balcony, coffee in hand, taking in the beautiful countryside view. Realising that this phase had worn off, and suddenly, the idea of taking off again no longer seemed so appealing.
Moving at such speed and intensity can be exhilarating for a finite amount of time, but it’s surely not sustainable. At some point, the body and mind are starting to crave more tranquillity and steadiness. And once that desire arises, it’s impossible to ignore.
Where is the balance between evolvement and stability? And how can we nourish our need for safety and steadiness while navigating complex transition processes?
If you are a bit like me, you love going on your adventures. Your desire to grow your comfort zone flows into your decision-making, and you don’t mind adapting your plans according to your needs. As somebody actively engaging with yourself and your inner development processes, that doesn’t come without a certain willingness to be flexible. Not prioritising a plan just for the sake of sticking to it when you realise that your priorities no longer align with it. The way towards your goal isn’t usually anchored in a single path; there are multiple. And sometimes, staying true to yourself means changing the plan.
It’s important to create balance between phases of growth and moments of pause. Allowing ourselves to properly recharge before diving headfirst into the next heated action. Chasing dreams isn’t all running; it’s stillness, too. Giving ourselves space to digest the impressions, and to feel how they are reshaping our view. Processing what happened requires us to be just as present as we were in the moment itself.
In many cultures, Germany included, we draw self-esteem from our productivity. We hustle to feel worthy. Lamentation and laziness are frowned upon, so of course the last thing we want is for people to think that we are one or both. Pausing, though, is neither. It’s an essential part of the process and skipping it won’t lead to better results in the long run. On the contrary, actually. Slowing down after a high-speed phase brings all the benefits. It means honouring our wellbeing and using our personal resources responsibly. Drawing a line when needed and moving along with a free mind. Letting go of the guilt that comes with taking a break might become easier when we remember that pausing actually helps us thrive.
It’s healthy to pause. We don’t need to push ourselves non-stop. It’s okay to regather strength in the transition, to prepare for the new adventure awaiting. Knowing that it’s perfectly fine to crave comfort and to protect our peace during phases of growth. These two things don’t exclude, they elevate each other. And even though the currently prevailing mania with self-improvement wants us to believe something else, we are really doing enough already.
Connection can be an incredibly beautiful source of tranquillity. Intentionally spending time with someone safe and soaking in their calming energy does wonders for the mind. In the presence of others, our own noise quiets – and that’s why we’re not meant to face it alone. We’re meant to share it.
Carry-On:
Do you catch yourself always on the go?
This week, try pausing – just for a moment – after completing a task.
What comes up when you do that?