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Urgency Crushes Authenticity

I’ve learned the hard way that anytime I feel like something is an emergency, I need to slow down.

In fact I’ve made a rule with myself - whenever I feel the overwhelming pressure build up to get things done immediately, I shut the project down ASAP.
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This happens most often with Instagram.

I wake up, have my coffee, get some sunshine, open my phone and then bam- the alarm bells go off.

That little voice screams : “if you want to be successful you need to post something RIGHT NOW.”

“Oh and it better be good, engaging and creative!”

Pushing off the rest of my to do list I spend the next two hours making and remaking videos until I’m exhausted.

Getting so frustrated, I would just fire off a post that’s low quality and low value.

For a while I would feel better because I “did something”.

When in reality I just wasted a bunch of time and got caught up in what I thought I’m “Supposed to do.”

Eventually I had the “aha” moment that my best content came when I was in a creative flow. It would just pop in naturally without trying.

When there is space to be my unique creative self.

That’s when I realized forcing things crushed my authenticity.

The sense of urgency in my body was information that I wasn’t connected to self. I was swept up in the whirlwind of other people's expectations and emotions.

And you can’t make good art by trying to mimic someone else.

Which is why I created this rule.

When I feel like I have to post on Instagram, I specifically don’t post that day.

Because I don’t want to show up from that place. It’s inauthentic and less effective.

So many leaders do this where they think they are doing enough, but really they have been doing too much of the wrong thing in the wrong way.

This pattern can play out in so many other areas of life.

You rush to make a big life decision only to regret it later because you didn’t give yourself space to feel into what you really wanted.

You feel pressure from the boss to have a response so you give an answer that’s not been confirmed and it comes to bite you in the ass.

Wanting to fit in at the party you force a joke that doesn’t land only to feel embarrassed later.

Nobody ever says “I’m so glad I rushed that decision”.

And it’s not just because you might miss some details.

When everything feels like an emergency you get disconnected from yourself.

And that disconnection takes away your greatest power - your unique, creative and authentic self.

My advice? Take my rule and apply it to your own life.

Because remember, not everything is an emergency.

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Much Love,
Taylor
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Taylor Sleaford Life, Leadership & Men's Work Coach

↠ What do I do? I work 1:1 with Men & Women guiding them personally, spiritually and professionally to be their most authentic, loving and powerful self. I also lead group programs for men. Learn more HERE​

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