Stability Over Speed ~

This week brought a few small victories.

I saw the specialist and officially graduated from my walking boot into a lace-up ankle brace. To be honest, I do not particularly like the brace. My foot is still swollen enough that wearing both the brace and a tennis shoe feels like trying to fit ten pounds of flour into a five-pound sack. But I have been given the go-ahead to return to walking and the gym. The instructions were simple: listen to your body. And, it struck me that this advice applies to far more than a broken ankle.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have stepped back and looked at the bigger picture of my life. Over the past few weeks, I have covered large Post-it notes with goals and timelines. They now hang on the wall where I can see them every day. Personal goals. Self-care goals. Goals for juliemlane.com, Redeem Thyself, Empowering Parents Network, and 7 Pedals. Research goals. And four books; two academic and two my story. 

What is different this time is not the number of goals. It is the structure. Everything has been broken into quarters. Not years. Not decades. Just the next season.

I recently came across an article from the Cleveland Clinic on decision fatigue. The article explains that when we are physically and mentally depleted, our ability to make decisions, prioritize, and think clearly becomes compromised. What struck me most was the realization that fatigue does not just affect productivity; it affects perspective. When energy is low, even things we deeply care about can suddenly feel uncertain. That resonated with me because I have noticed that when I am tired, I begin questioning the very projects that bring me the most joy. 

Nature understands this principle well. Trees do not grow all at once. Rivers do not carve canyons in a day. Seasons do not rush one another. Growth happens through repetition, rhythm, and time. Perhaps that is my lesson right now. Not rapid expansion. Not doing more. Not chasing every opportunity that appears.

Instead, I am choosing stability and momentum. Protecting my rhythm. Maintaining realistic priorities. Focusing on weekly deliverables and quarterly goals. Preserving energy. Honoring the writing process.

For years, I believed success required acceleration. Today, I am beginning to believe it requires sustainability. What if the goal is not to move faster, but to just keep moving?

What helps you maintain momentum without sacrificing your peace?

Let me know, and I will reply.

~ julie

If you feel so inclined, please reply with your thoughts.

Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.

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