Reframing. Perspective. Whatever you like to call it, I think it is important to know how to do it without falling into toxic positivity.
Last week I was beyond exhausted.
Honestly, I think I still am (LOL).
I was irritable because I needed to work another Sunday to prepare for the opening of school. It had already been a work late every day kind of week, but Sunday my mood was a clear sign that I felt off. That is the challenge of being in a demanding job. It requires both the physical work and the emotional energy it takes to be around people all day.
Before, I Would Have Pushed Through
In the past, I would have ignored how I felt. I would have pushed the tiredness aside and kept going. I thought that was what strong people did. But now I know it is important to be okay with not feeling it.
It is human to feel tired, unhappy, or moody.
And it is equally important to acknowledge those feelings without judgment so they can flow through you.
That Sunday, I gave myself permission to be upset. I paused. I didn’t force myself to “snap out of it.” And eventually, I got back to a more optimistic mindset. It took longer than I wanted, but it reminded me of the power of reframing.
From “As Soon As Possible” to “As Slow As Possible”
At that moment, my to-do list felt urgent.
Everything needed my attention. Everything needed to be done ASAP, as soon as possible.
Then, this week, I stumbled across a quote that made me stop in my tracks:
ASAP
As slow as possible.
As soft as possible.
As soulful as possible.
As sustainable as possible.
As sincere as possible.
As steady as possible.
Allow space and pause.
I gasped when I read it. I felt relieved. Because sometimes when we feel urgency, what we actually need is to pause and reframe what ASAP could mean.
Why Reframing Matters
Carol Dweck, known for her work on growth mindset, teaches that how we see a challenge shapes how we respond to it. A fixed mindset sees discomfort as a problem to avoid. A growth mindset sees it as a chance to learn.
Here’s a short video on growth mindset that captures this shift beautifully.
This is why emotional intelligence matters so much in our fast-paced and demanding world. It is not just about managing stress, it is about recognizing when we need to slow down, soften our approach, and steady ourselves before we respond.
At The Thriving Hive, this is the heart of what I teach: that your growth in emotional intelligence flows into every part of your life. The way you respond to stress shapes how you lead, how you connect, and how you live.
Welcome to My ASAP Series
Over the next several weeks, I will share stories and lessons that explore each part of this reimagined ASAP. We will talk about moving as slow as possible, staying soft, living soulfully, building sustainability, showing sincerity, staying steady, and making space to pause.
These posts will not be about being perfect. They will be about being human and learning how to show up better in your life, even when it feels heavy.
Reflection Prompt:
Think of a time when you felt the pressure to move fast. How might the outcome have changed if you approached it as slow as possible instead?
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