Why You Always Feel Behind Even When You’re Not
A few mornings ago, something small revealed a pattern I didn’t realize I was still living in.
I was making my usual smoothie before starting the day. I blended it, drank it, and went to toss the cup in the sink. And without thinking, I heard myself say the same line I repeat almost every morning:
“I don’t have enough time.”
It’s a sentence that shows up automatically. Not because it’s true, but because it’s familiar. It’s the background script so many high achievers run without noticing, the one that creates urgency even when nothing is actually urgent.
But for some reason, that morning I stopped long enough to question it. Do I really not have time… or have I just trained myself to believe that?
I decided to change the script: “I have enough time.” Then I washed the cup. It took less than a minute.
But that small moment shifted the entire tone of my day. My shoulders relaxed. My mind slowed down. I felt present, something I didn’t realize I had been missing in those early hours.
That’s when it hit me: Most of us aren’t rushing because life demands it. We’re rushing because our thoughts are.
The Invisible Rush We Don’t Notice
High achievers move fast because we’ve been rewarded for it. But over time, speed becomes our default, not our choice. We start living with a subtle tension that tells us:
you’re behind
move faster
you don’t have time
you should be doing more
Even when everything is under control. This is why so many people feel overwhelmed before the day even begins. It’s not the calendar, it’s the internal narrative. And like any narrative, it can be rewritten.
A Simple Shift to Slow Your Day Down
If you ever feel like you’re rushing through your life, try paying attention to the quiet phrases running in the background of your mind.
The next time you hear yourself say, “I don’t have time,” gently switch it to:
“I have enough time for this moment.”
Not the whole day. Just this moment. You’ll be surprised how quickly your nervous system responds when your inner dialogue softens.
Final Thought
We don’t need more hours in the day. We need a different relationship with the hours we already have. When you slow the script, you slow the rush. And when you slow the rush, you finally get to feel your life again.
Want to Go Deeper?
Download a free chapter of my book, Success Starts Within, and learn how to reclaim your energy and create success that actually feels good: Click here to download
If your team is facing burnout or retention challenges, this is the work I support organizations with: Click here to learn more
Chazz Scott | Resilience & Sustainable Performance Expert | Founder, Supra Mentem Consulting | Author of Success Starts Within
Creator of the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™ – Helping professionals and teams break free from burnout, boost retention, and build success that actually feels good.
