Slow down, I’m in a hurry: Stop acting out of fear and start enjoying the journey again

It’s a constant question throughout my life. Sometimes the phrasing changes, but at its core, it’s always the same: Why do I want a better job? Why do I want a better salary, more intelligence, better skills, a certification, a degree, or a master's? What for?

In reality, what I want is a life filled with meaning. I want a life at peace; that’s the true underlying motive.

But then that inner voice steps in: "You have your job, your side business, and this other project in your free time. Is it for the money?" Well, yes. In one way or another, I’ve learned that money is always useful for tough times. But why am I so fixated on making all my decisions revolve around adversity? Hard times will come whether you like it or not. The real question is: why don't I enjoy the good moments more? Why don't I give myself time to savor the good times?

Why don't I simply choose to be at peace?

In the end, I realized that sleeplessness, insomnia, worries, sadness, and anger are all states that live inside me. I can choose what I want for my life and what I want to feel. If what I'm looking for is peace, I don't have to wait until I reach the next big achievement. How many major goals haven't I already accomplished? When am I going to stop this mechanism—incredibly useful for driving me forward, yes, but fueled by fear? When am I going to enjoy the journey of building, or the journey itself?

If you want to help the people you love, you don't have to wait: there are thousands of ways to do it today. If you want to start painting, you don't have to wait. If you want to climb a volcano, just buy the ticket and go. What are you waiting for to feel at peace?

I got tired of using fear as my engine. That fuel has a limit; it doesn't let you rest, and if you don't rest, you slow down. Three hours with a rested brain are infinitely more productive than twelve hours of bad sleep and a bad mood when solving logic or programming problems. Even in physical work: if you’re exhausted from the day before, you won't perform the same. Even the body demands a truce.

So, what system allows us to move forward, enjoy, and be at peace?

I remembered something my grandfather and great-grandfather used to say about Napoleon Bonaparte. They said that when his servants were dressing him and he was in a rush, he would tell them: "Slow down, I’m in a hurry." What a powerful line. That’s where the key lies.

If I act and move by stripping away fear, simply because I want to do it, the rhythm changes. If I execute calmly, without pressuring myself but with consistency, I achieve so much more. It's like setting out to walk for hours and suddenly demanding yourself to run: running will burn you out very quickly, but walking—taking breaks and admiring the scenery—allows you to go much farther. Maybe not as fast, but with enough energy to repeat it the next day.

It's similar to that feeling when I'm training or in a fight and I manage to disconnect from my emotions, letting my body flow. Without unnecessary movements, I let my body guide the strikes and the defense, and everything seems to move in slow motion. But if you throw anger or fear into the mix, that magic breaks. As they said in The Last Samurai: "Too much mind. Let your body act."

Fear leads us to overplan, to try to make the "perfect decision" every single time. But overthinking consumes valuable time. The reality is that you don't need to have absolutely everything under control. Planning is good, but don't burn out there: take action, enjoy the process, and don't look back or regret. Moving on to the next thing is a thousand times better than getting trapped forever overthinking the best option.

Now I know what I want, and I have an idea of how to get it. I’ve already dedicated time to the strategy; now it’s time to jump into action. The most important thing in this process is understanding that some things will take time. When I notice it, I won't get frustrated: I’ll simply understand that the path is longer, but that I'm still moving forward.

I often think about peace and desire. For Buddhism, reaching fulfillment consists of expecting nothing and desiring nothing. However, I’m more drawn to the Stoic perspective: the outcome does not belong to us, only our effort does. Under that principle, I set out to enjoy every stage of the process and every aspect of my life; to learn to love the effort, but also to enjoy the rest. To be present in what I'm doing and, when it's over, to let go of what I'm no longer doing.

I'm still learning to love my sweat, to enjoy the heat of the sun as I walk under it, and to value even more arriving at a waterfall to swim in its waters, jump off the cliff, and feel the air. I give myself a breath to become aware of how far I've come and where I'm standing, always keeping arrogance at bay, ready to lend a hand to anyone who needs it and anyone who deserves the help.

The insomnia is almost gone. Stress can definitely kill you alive. You can have a thousand problems in your daily life, but the moment you lose your health, suddenly only one problem exists.