I have a bad habit of sometimes starting to drive off in my car without letting off the emergency brake. The result is that the car grinds along slowly, making it difficult to drive at normal speeds and putting a great deal of stress on the engine. When I finally realize my error and release the brake the car immediately returns to normal and I’m able to continue smoothly on my way.
I believe that in life we sometimes leave our “emergency brakes” on, with a lot of the same effects. The “emergency brake” in your life might be past failures or fear of what the future might bring. These emotions will hold you back, slow you down and cause your body to become worn down due to the stress they create.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just release that emergency brake and free ourselves from the unnecessary stress? The good news is that we can; the bad news is that it’s not quite as simple as stepping on the emergency brake in your car and it requires a lot more courage. But if you can put the regrets of the past behind you and face down your fears about the future, you can move forward free from the burden of those negative emotions.
In his essay “The Station,” Robert Hastings says that “regret and fear are the twin thieves [that] rob us of today.” Read it here, and take some time to think about the message.
Then let off the emergency brake in your life and start living in the moment.
Have a great weekend,
Ro
Ro, thank you for the link to the Robert Hastings piece. I suspect we can all use a reminder like this from time to time.