There is a growing invisible condition that’s hurting our souls. It’s called “hurry sickness,” defined as a “pattern characterized by continual rushing and anxiousness; an overwhelming and continual sense of urgency.”
Dallas Willard told a man he mentored, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life,” believing it to be one of our greatest spiritual enemies. A hurried soul is a striving soul — a soul that has not found rest.
I started living a hurried life in high school when the bug of perfectionism took hold of my life. I became a high achiever, and hustling at a frantic pace became my MO. I see now that it was insecurity that drove my hurry sickness. I believed if only I could accomplish as many big things in as little time as possible, my sense of unworthiness would go away.
Decades later, I’m finding a joy in living a slower life. I’ll always be a high achiever — its in my DNA, but I want to reach my goals from a place of wholeness, not perfection; from peace, not strife.
Here are five things that have helped me slow down my soul and find more peace which can do the same for you:
- Know the Root of Your Hurry Sickness
If you find yourself always feeling hurried, plagued by a sense of urgency, it’s an indicator that something deeper is going on at the soul level. Finding the answer will require that you slow down, get quiet, and reflect. Ask God to reveal the source of your “hurry sickness.” This awareness will help you cure it.
2. Take the Slow Lane
I’m all about getting practical. Pull over to the right. Get behind the eighty-year-old lady driving five miles below the speed limit. Roll your windows down, put your music louder, and practice being in the moment.
3. Choose the Longest Checkout Lane
This is the hardest one for me. I’m one of those frantic shoppers who is a hazard on the aisles and have been known to sideswipe one too many innocent shoppers’ carts. I don’t do it often, but when I don’t have to be anywhere, I resist finding the shortest lane. I just take deep breaths, grab that trashy magazine at the checkout stand and try to patiently wait my turn. Give it a try!
4. Take Slow Walks Outside
Gidget is my daily teacher in the art of soul-full living. She loves to take her time on our walks. She always has something new to sniff and refuses to match my four-mile-an-hour pace. On our evening sunset walks through the nearby vineyard, I now try to let her lead the way, match her pace, and take in the sights and sounds.
5. Read Books Instead of Scrolling at Night
Frantically doom-scrolling on social media perpetuates hurry sickness. Put your phone in a drawer or the other room if you have to, and grab a book — ideally one with physical pages. Take your time reading each word. Breath deeply and feel your soul rest at ease.
I hope these five practices help you fight hurry sickness, and find greater peace. Remember, we don’t have to conform to the frantic pace of our world. We get to decide what pace we do this life at. Make having a soul at rest a priority in life. Do these five practices regularly, and your soul will thank you.
