What is pace? When we think about pace, we think about speed. Speed at which we run, walk, drive, and move. We often think of things being fast-paced or slow-paced, thus immediately linking back to ‘speed’. In thinking about True Pace, I asked myself the question - Does finding your true pace mean the same thing as slowing down? First thoughts lean towards a ‘Yes’. There is much said on these pages about the negative aspects of constant acceleration, hurry, productivity-chasing and efficiency-hacking, so, yes, slowing down seems a logical conclusion. Does this mean that True Pace is all about ‘Slow Living’, withdrawing from life, opting out of your goals and ambitions, to lead a slow, peaceful, life of harmony and tranquility? NO! That is the opposite of where we want to go.
Finding your True Pace is not about slowing down. It’s about moving at a speed you can sustain - physically, mentally, financially, and emotionally - over the long arc of life. It is important to acknowledge that someone can operate at a high pace and still be at their true pace if:
the pace is chosen,
it matches their season of life,
it’s physically and mentally sustainable,
and it creates meaning rather than depletion.
True Pace is all about having big, bold goals, massive ambition, a drive to achieve great things, but intentionally, for the right reasons. Finding your True Pace is about designing your life in such a way that your drive and ambitions can thrive over your long and healthy life - see what I’ve done there? Yes, it is all linked! And that is the beauty of this mindset. You are setting your pace, so that you achieve what you want, look after your health, and do this sustainability over decades, not months or quarters.
Different people will thrive at different speeds, so there is no one way to go about this life design. It is also true that the same person may need different paces in different seasons of life, and there may be times when we need to reset, slowing down completely but just for some time. There is no one answer, but intentionality is key! Thinking about your true pace is what will make a difference.
Let’s think about this pace question in terms of a metaphor - driving. Driving at one speed will be either exhausting or monotonous, or both. If we drive down the highway, and drive at maximum speed, all the time, we will get to where we are going as quickly as possible, provided we know where we are going, and there is an end in sight. What if we stay on that highway, indefinitely, with no clear goal in sight? How about a leisurely, slow drive in the countryside? Some of us would enjoy this more than others, but very few would opt to drive at constant speed for a very long time without realizing that zeal for change.
We all have our own pace that we thrive at, and this pace will and should change at different point of our lives, and in response to various events. The key is not to get stuck in auto-drive, and speed through life without taking the time to actually live it, or slow down to a life that will not allow you to achieve success or fulfill your wild dreams.
Think about your true pace - do you need to cruise, speed up or is it time for a break?
