That’s a phrase I heard a lot when I was young, I don’t know the actual source, but I’m sure it’s a colloquial proverb from the country. I may have heard my mom say it a lot.

Anyway, that phrase has been rolling around in my brain the last few days. I’ve been so crazy busy, and progress, although it surely is happening, it seems to be so small and so slow.

I have to keep reminding myself that all progress is good and I should refrain from the old patterns of guilt and inadequacy that are counterproductive.

It’s so easy to fall into these old patterns when we get caught up in our busy minds and busy routines. We begin to imagine everyone is expecting us to do, and be, everything to everyone, everywhere, all the time.

We get the idea that we are obligated in fantastic proportion to our time and ability to achieve anything. If we let these ideas control our thoughts, we become anxious, obsessed, and depressed. These are symptoms of stress; and stress is unhealthy. It undermines our abilities to be our best at anything.

Sometimes we need to slow down to get a better focus and revitalize our energy to enable us to move in a more productive way. So, take the colloquial proverb to heart and remind yourself to go slowly when you need to and dismiss the thoughts of guilt and inadequacy. It’s good to be persistent, but it’s better to be consistent. The caveat here of course is: provided you are being persistent and consistent with positive growth.

The zen approach to life is to simplify, it does not have to be so complicated.

Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhi Dhi Dhi
~ in the midst of chaos, everything is pure by nature.

~ Tibetan Mantra