We’re always being told to “hurry up!” “Think fast!” “Make a decision now.” Do you realize how offensive it is to say this when it is not necessary? I find being pressured to hurry up absolutely heinous.
Think about this: time is even more important than money, because you can’t get it back once it’s passed. Now if someone you were interacting with was saying, “hurry up, give me your money!” how would you react?
Like anything else, there are times when you do need to think fast. But modern society has a need for speed on steroids, and it’s destructive and harmful. And you have every right to resist it. And well you should.
Telling somebody to quickly decide on something violates their thought process. It is a kind of mental assault. And just as you would resist physical assault, you should also resist mental assaults like this. Even if it sounds like the person hurrying you along knows what they’re talking about and seems to have some good points, ask yourself this: will my life or the life of my loved ones be threatened by not taking this decision quickly? 99% of the time, the answer is a big NO when you just take a moment to think about it. So what if you don’t buy product X right now, or commit to doing what person Y wants right away? Your bungee cords won’t snap. 🙂
One of the reasons we’re able to let people in and trust them is that we are convinced that they won’t cry wolf. We say “anytime you need somebody, call me.” This is based on a trust we have that says, “I can offer you all this because I know you won’t abuse it.” It’s the same thing with our time–time to think. How many people would you truly offer all of yourself to? These people have earned your trust. But these others who are pressuring you to be hasty… have they earned your time? Moreover, have they earned the right to take your time away from you?
Your time is a precious thing. Stop and savor it. Especially when you feel pressured to hurry up… that’s when it’s most crucial. After all, if the decision were easy and didn’t require a moment to think, you wouldn’t feel the pressure and it wouldn’t feel like hurrying up!
Positive Juice 
Very powerful post. Everyone is riding in the fast lane now a days. America is conditioned with a “go, go, go” attitude. It rare people actually take the time to “stop and smell the roses”.
I loved your post. I agree wholeheartedly that people really do need to learn to resist the mind-numbing assault launched on us each time we tune in to most forms of society.
It’s obscene if you’re aware of it, or a way of life if you’re not.
Pingback: How to listen well: start by listening to yourself « Positive Juice
Pingback: Remember to breathe « Positive Juice
Pingback: The real meaning of “safer sex” « Positive Juice
Pingback: Don’t do something just because you “should” « Positive Juice
Pingback: It’s ok to not be ready « Positive Juice
Pingback: Why I hate “will you marry me?” and other such loaded on-the-spot proposals « Positive Juice