If you keep running, you never have to stop and face yourself.
But what happens when you finally do?
We live in a world that glorifies movement- faster, busier, more productive. We fill our days with tasks, appointments, and endless distractions, convincing ourselves that we’re chasing success or purpose. But beneath the surface, there’s something else at play.
What if, instead of moving toward something, we’re actually running away? What if all this busyness is just a carefully constructed illusion shielding us from the emotions we’d rather not face? Hustle culture doesn’t just drown us in expectations- it also promotes emotional blindness.
From an early age, we learn to suppress our feelings. If men show emotions, they’re seen as weak. If women show too much, they’re called crazy. Instead of fostering emotional awareness, society teaches us to numb ourselves- with work, alcohol, distractions- and we give into the distractions, hoping what we’re feeling will never resurface.
And why is it that after a heartbreak or hardship, our instinct is to overwork ourselves? We throw ourselves into the grind, filling every moment to avoid sitting with our feelings. It brings temporary relief, but exhaustion and burnout eventually creep in. Then we seek the next distraction, repeating the cycle.
Generation after generation, we have conditioned ourselves to avoid rather than confront.
I was recently listening to a podcast, In Hindzsight, where Hindz, the host, talked about how breakups give us an instant surge of motivation. We dive into work, start exercising, and push ourselves harder than ever. But because this energy is rooted in pain, it’s not sustainable. Once the storm passes, we often fall back into old patterns. Instead of using pain as fuel, we need to cultivate motivation and discipline that come from a place of self-awareness to form healthy lasting habits.
However, how can we do that if we never stop running long enough to face what we’re avoiding?
Are you using busyness to avoid yourself?
Here are some signs you might be:
♡ You feel uneasy in stillness or quiet moments
♡ You always need to be “doing” something, even during downtime
♡ You avoid deep conversations or self-reflection
♡ You feel physical/ emotional exhaustion despite “accomplishing” a lot
Try this with me…
Close your eyes for a moment. Picture this:
You’re lying in a hammock, feeling the gentle sway. You take a slow, deep breath in… and exhale. Around you, nature hums in soft harmony. There is nowhere you need to be. Nothing you need to do. You are here, in this moment. And you are safe.
If that exercise felt difficult, I challenge you to try again. Pay attention to where your mind keeps running off to. Write it down. Listen to it- because at the root of all this running is an emotion that wants to be heard.
When we embrace stillness, we create space for self-awareness. Here are some simple ways to sit with your feelings:
♡ Journaling
♡ Mediation
♡ Mindful Walks
♡ Sitting in nature
Being busy isn’t bad. Drinking isn’t bad. Smoking isn’t bad. However, when these things become an escape from yourself, that’s when they can become harmful. In a world that rarely encourages emotional depth, it takes courage to slow down and listen to what’s inside.
Imagine knowing yourself so well that you can welcome any emotion with open arms. You can open the door for them and say “Hello anxiety. Have a seat.” or “Hello, sadness. Do you need a hug?”
Imagine feeling safe in your own mind, allowing yourself to experience the full spectrum of human emotion without fear. Imagine having roots so deep you can weather any storm.
Imagine, finally, being able to stop running.
You’re not alone in your journey.
Thank you all for joining me and being here. I would love to hear from you- drop a comment or reach out. What do you feel like you’re still running away from?
Blessings!
Divine Events 
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