As a kid (and okay, I may have even done this as an adult, too), I liked to try to race against the escalators. If no one was around, I’d try to go up the down escalator, sensing the challenge and increasing my speed to see if I could make it to the top. The escalator stairs kept coming down and taking me down, but I would pick up my feet and try to take two steps up for every one coming towards me to compensate for the downward motion.
While on the escalator this can be a fun physical challenge, sometimes in life, we are pushing ourselves up the wrong escalator and resisting where life is trying to take us. “I don’t want to go down! I’m going up!” We push ourselves and keep forcing movement and effort even against all signs to the contrary.
I understand (and have plenty of personal experience) that the road isn’t always easy when we’re going in the right direction. There is a time and place for dedication and persistence. But that’s not what I’m talking about here.
I’m referring to those times when you and I get so fixated on what we want and exactly what that looks like, even when life keeps trying to guide us another direction.
I’ve been playing with the concept of holding onto the dream while letting go of the how. We can keep our wants and desires, but letting go of exactly what that looks like allows for amazing things to happen. One of the ways to do this is to think about what you want and then go deeper: how will you feel when you have that thing? Focus on the feeling state you want and let go of what it will look like.
There is great relief in letting go, in accepting what is the current reality while remembering that you are moving towards something new. Riding the escalator or current doesn’t mean giving up. But not fighting against what is opens you up to experiencing the joy and blessings in the present moment.