The Cost of Rushing: Choosing a More Deliberate LifeThe Cost of Rushing: Choosing a More Deliberate Life
Telling On Ourselves
Lynn, Vicki and Mark talk about the emotional and practical costs of rushing and all-or-nothing thinking, especially in recovery. Their conversation touches on mindfulness, social media triggers and small everyday choices that can add up to a more deliberate, gentle way of living.
41:01•13 Jul 2026
The Cost of Rushing and How to Choose a More Deliberate Life
Episode Overview
- Rushing often stems from all-or-nothing thinking and can lead to more stress, mistakes and self-judgement.
- Mindfulness is presented as the opposite of rushing, focusing on present-moment awareness in a gentle, nonjudgemental way.
- Emotional triggers on social media can be treated as personal work, using tools like sharing, prayer, journalling and inventories.
- Choosing a slower, more deliberate pace can act as a living amends to oneself, honouring the body and mind instead of driving them harshly.
- Simple practices such as washing dishes slowly, walking without a phone and keeping a "did list" can help build a more intentional daily life.
“The opposite of rush is slow down. It’s not about removing something, it’s about replacing it with something.”
What drives someone to seek a life that’s slower, gentler, and a lot more intentional? Telling On Ourselves brings that question to the table with Lynn, Vicki and Mark sharing a funny, honest chat about the cost of rushing through life and recovery. You’ll hear Vicki unpack a hefty “first thought wrong” around social media, judgement and emotional triggers.
After seeing a political post from someone she deeply cares about, she spirals into confusion and sadness, eventually realising, “I guess my point is that this is a me problem.” Her sponsor’s response — “maybe you’re not supposed to understand” — becomes a springboard into talking about sitting with feelings instead of sprinting past them.
The trio talk about how their alcoholic, all-or-nothing thinking shows up as rushing: quitting Facebook completely, speeding on motorways for six extra minutes, or racing through work just to get to the ‘good stuff’. Lynn admits, “I want to get through this stuff so I can get to the good stuff,” and then gently calls herself out for contradicting her own mindfulness values.
Mindfulness is framed as the “spiritual opposite of rushing”, with a definition that stresses “curiosity, openness and acceptance rather than evaluation or criticism.” They share practical tools like washing dishes slowly, noticing birds on a walk, counting “5-4-3-2-1” to quiet the mind, and replacing the classic to-do list with a playful “did list” to celebrate what’s already been done.
Through humour, talk of menopause mood swings, Facebook dramas and spilled coffee, the conversation stays grounded in recovery: choosing grey over black-and-white thinking, treating others like their five-year-old selves, and making a “living amends” to yourself by not pushing your body and mind to the limit every day.
If you’re tired of feeling like you have to earn rest or prove your worth through busyness, this chat might be the nudge you need to ask yourself: what would a more deliberate life look like for you, one intentional moment at a time?
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