Stop Counting Down and Settle In

Today, I heard a person state that she had found joy when she, “stopped counting down and started settling in.” We’ve all been there. Counting down how long we’ll be in a current position, how long we’ll live somewhere, or how long till a grant runs out. I’ve heard people say, I am just going to stay at ________ for two years, then go ________. This is okay, but those kind of plans keep us from settling in.

So, instead of eagerly waiting for a specific event or moment (like a deadline, arrival, or transition), or “counting down,” we should consider beginning to relax, adapt, and become comfortable with your current situation, or “settle in.” This would encourage us to focus on making the most of where we are right now rather than just looking forward to when something will happen. In some situations it might do us well to shift our mindset from anticipation to acceptance and engagement with the present.

Byron's Babbles