Are you feeling the pressure to perform right now?
It’s easy to confuse pressure with the need to move faster.
But what if pressure was actually a call to deepen your integrity?
Integrity means aligning your actions with your intentions. Yet, it’s easy to live on a treadmill to nowhere, wondering why our real dreams - remain out of reach.
You don’t have to sacrifice your dreams. But you might need to slow down to speed up because running faster on the wrong path won’t help. Pausing to realign your actions with your long term intentions will.
Here are three principles of integrity I’ve learned over the past decade to help play the long game while taking care of daily business:
[Presence] Meditate an hour a day. If you don’t have time, meditate two hours a day (even 5 minutes counts).
Be present in your life.
[Power] There’s no such thing as time management—only choice management.
Master your focus and energy to cultivate your power of agency (not just ‘confidence’).
[Possibility] It always seems impossible until it’s done
Don’t compare yourself to others - focus on your lane and take the next aligned step. This should feel a little exciting and a little scary.
And of course, investing in high quality guidance and mentorship makes a big difference. Make sure you choose someone who scares you a little (not just makes you feel good).
Legend in the making: Meet one of my clients, a visionary doctor who moved from medicine to Global Health policy. Once uncertain about his role and career path, we clarified his values, vision, mission, and leadership style. Fast forward 12 months, and he’s secured so much funding his new challenge is to deliver in alignment with the vision. He’s wisely focusing on slowing down by taking executive time to make effective decisions. Congratulations, on the journey, Doc!
The world doesn’t need more busy people. It needs people aligned with their deeper vision for wellbeing, harmony, and fulfilment.
As the saying goes: The times are urgent, let us slow down [via author, Bayo Akomolafe].
Have a great week,
Amina
p.s. For the full version including special opportunities to work with me on creating your aligned career, life, and impact, subscribe to the Wise Wednesdays newsletter (link above).
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