The Paradox of Moving Fast by Going Slow

There’s a Latin saying, Festina Lente, which translates to “make haste slowly.” On the surface, it feels like a contradiction, how can you move quickly if you’re moving slowly? It’s concept that is familiar to me from both the military and as a swimming instructor: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”  At first glance, it might sound like an odd mantra, how can moving slowly make you faster? But anyone who’s ever learned a complex skill, whether it’s stripping a weapon system or perfecting a swimming stroke, understands the deeper wisdom here… rushing creates mistakes, and mistakes slow you down.

In the military, soldiers are trained to prioritise precision over speed. Why? Because frantic movement leads to errors, dropped gear, missed signals, or worse. The same applies to swimming. Flailing in the water burns energy and gets you nowhere. Instead, success comes from focusing on form, control, and deliberate motion.

This philosophy applies just as much to life and healing as it does to tactical manoeuvres or athletic performance. When you take the time to move intentionally, you build the kind of momentum that actually gets you where you want to go.

The Danger of Rushing in Healing

In therapy, I often see people eager to “fix” themselves as quickly as possible. They dive headfirst into every book, technique, or session with the hope that faster action equals faster results. But healing doesn’t work like that.

Rushing the process often leads to frustration, burnout, or worse… re-traumatisation. When you try to force yourself through pain or bypass the deeper work, you miss the opportunity to integrate real, lasting change. Just like a swimmer who wastes energy thrashing in the water, you exhaust yourself without actually moving forward.

Healing isn’t about how fast you can move; it’s about moving smoothly, with intention, patience, and precision. That’s how you make progress that lasts.

The Power of Slow, Intentional Progress

When you adopt the Festina Lente mindset "make haste slowly", you allow yourself to focus on doing things right rather than doing them fast. Here's how the principle of slow is smooth, smooth is fast works in practice:

Build Muscle Memory

Whether it’s learning a new coping strategy or rewiring old thought patterns, you can’t rush the process. Repetition and practice are key. When you slow down and focus on each small step, you create a foundation that allows you to move forward with confidence.

Reduce Errors

Rushing through a tough conversation or overwhelming yourself with too much self-improvement all at once often leads to setbacks. Slowing down gives you the space to avoid mistakes and navigate challenges more effectively.

Conserve Energy

Healing takes energy, and going too fast can leave you drained. By moving smoothly and intentionally, you avoid unnecessary stress and conserve your strength for what truly matters.

Applying "Slow is Smooth" to Your Healing Journey

• Start Small

  Choose one area to focus on rather than trying to tackle everything at once. Healing isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.

• Prioritise Consistency

  Small, steady efforts every day are more effective than sporadic bursts of energy. Think of it as creating a rhythm rather than a race.

• Practice Intentional Reflection

  Take time to evaluate your progress and adjust your approach. Slowing down to reflect doesn’t mean stopping, it means ensuring you’re still on the right path.

• Trust the Process

  Just as a soldier trusts their training or a swimmer trusts their technique, trust that slowing down now will lead to faster, smoother progress in the long run.

Embrace the Paradox

So, where in your life are you rushing? Are you flailing through the waters of healing, trying to get to the other side as quickly as possible? Are you sprinting through tasks, relationships, or emotions without taking the time to truly connect with them?

Festina Lente challenges us to pause, to breathe, and to move forward with intention. Remember, slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. The greatest progress often comes not from rushing ahead but from taking the time to build strength, confidence, and clarity along the way.

I invite you to slow down. Move deliberately. Focus on the process rather than the outcome. You might just find that by making haste slowly, you get to where you want to be faster, and with far more peace.