I was having a conversation with my aunt the other day about lessons—specifically, how many times we have to learn the same lesson before it truly sticks.

As we talked, I realized that one of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn on this journey is patience—and equally as hard, taking my time.

These two things? Probably the hardest lessons of my life.

See, I like to rush through everything. When I have an idea, I am all in—100% dedicated, fully focused, and in execution mode. I throw myself into it, to the point where I’ll forget to eat, won’t sleep, and will work myself to exhaustion just trying to bring my vision to life.

I don’t like waiting. I don’t like delays. I want instant results, and if I don’t see progress fast enough, my gut reaction is to pivot and move onto the next thing.

But as I’ve come to realize, moving that fast isn’t always a good thing.

Where the Rush Comes From

Looking back, I know exactly where this need to rush comes from—my dad.

My dad was the most impatient man I’ve ever met.

Everything was fast, fast, fast with him.

He ate fast, he walked fast, he talked fast—he never waited for anything or anyone.

If we were out shopping and I needed to pee? I had seconds before he was out the door.

If we had to stop for something in a store, I’d be chasing him down aisles just to keep up.

He never waited in line—somehow, he always managed to cut ahead without getting punched (I still don’t know how he pulled that off).

Even at restaurants, if the waiter wasn’t quick enough, he’d be tapping his hands on the table in frustration.

And without realizing it, I picked up that same mentality.

I never stopped to think about why I always felt the need to rush.

Was it a trauma response?

Anxiety?

A deep fear that time was running out?

Whatever the reason, it became clear that in this season of my life, one of my biggest lessons was going to be learning how to slow down.

And let me tell you—slowing down has been painful.

The Struggle of Slowing Down

When I quit my job, I was desperate to make money fast.

I’d chase any and every idea that I thought could generate income.

I’d jump from one thing to the next, convinced that if something wasn’t working immediately, it meant I needed to switch directions.

I was working myself to the ground, but nothing was coming to fruition.

I kept asking, “God, why am I hitting so many roadblocks? I’m working so hard. You gave me these ideas—why isn’t anything taking off?”

Every time something didn’t work, I’d assume it was a sign to move on, so I’d jump into something new.

But deep down, I wasn’t moving with purpose—I was acting out of fear and desperation.

In less than a year, I watched everything I had worked so hard for just fall apart.

My degree—that I fought for as a young mom while my husband was in the military?

My career—that I had built from the ground up? It all vanished, just like that.

And then, when I finally took the leap of faith to quit my job, I was met with silence.

I kept waiting for the next step, for clear instructions from God. Instead, He kept telling me to be still.

Be still?

I didn’t know how to be still.

I didn’t know how to sit back and just wait.

God was telling me to rest, to take care of myself, to enjoy my time at home—and every time I tried to do that, panic would creep in.

My thoughts would spiral:
“What do you mean you’re just sitting here?”

“Bills are due! Creditors are calling! You have responsibilities!”

“How are you having a self-care day when you should be working?”

And the cycle would start all over again.

I’d go back into hustle mode, working myself to death, convinced that if I wasn’t grinding, I wasn’t moving forward.

But no matter how much I worked, nothing clicked.

The Wake-Up Call

One day, during meditation, I finally heard God’s voice loud and clear:

“Have I not provided for you in the last year?”
“Have you needed food? A place to stay? A car? Anything?”

And it hit me—God had already given me everything I needed.

I had asked Him for a life where I could do what I loved without the constant stress of hustling and grinding.

I didn’t want to work myself to exhaustion anymore. I wanted things to flow effortlessly.

And here I was, panicking and doubting the very thing I had asked for.

I was so used to struggling that when God actually gave me the peace and time I had prayed for, I didn’t know how to receive it.

Instead, I kept fighting to control everything, convinced that I had to force my success instead of trusting God’s timing.

The Realization: Trust & Patience

I realized that when you rush, you miss things.

You make mistakes.

You burn yourself out.

And sometimes, you don’t even make it to the destination because you’ve drained yourself before you even get there.

And here’s the other thing—just because you think you’ve learned a lesson doesn’t mean the test is over.

God will test you again and again, just in different ways.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve been tested on patience, taking my time, and trusting God.

Every time I think I’ve got it figured out, boom—another test.

And at this point? I’m tired.

I want to be done with the tests, but I know that’s not how life works.

Growth is a continuous journey, and each test makes me stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next level.

The good news? The tests don’t last as long when you actually start learning the lesson.

Final Thoughts: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

If you’re in a season of waiting—whether it’s for your career, business, relationships, finances, or personal growth—this is your reminder:

Trust the process. Slow down. Take your time.

Just because you don’t see results immediately doesn’t mean things aren’t moving in your favor.

And more importantly? Believe that you deserve the things you’re asking for.

Because God can move mountains—but you have to be willing to stand still long enough to watch it happen.

Sending love and light to everyone on their own journey. Hang in there. The breakthrough is coming.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you ever struggled with patience, slowing down, or trusting the process? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it!

Unapologetically, Dorothy! 🌞

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