We’re all moving too fast. It makes us hold tension, miss meaningful moments, and make reactionary choices. What’s wild is that we all know we’re moving too fast but keep doing it anyway–even though we’re aware of what it’s doing to us.
I’ve spent most of my life watching my mind. I’m like a self-anthropologist. While I experience my reality, the witness or meta part of my mind constantly watches what’s unfolding, how I respond to it, and how it makes me feel. Of course, this mindful muscle comes from 25 years of meditation practice. Sturdy, mindful self-awareness is a valuable skill because it allows me to be aware of what I’m doing in the present moment and make intentional choices about how I act, speak (or stay silent), and respond.
Being mindful is part of my job. Everything I write, talk, and coach people about involves increasing mindfulness at a foundational level. I like to joke with my friends that by meditating, I’m being more professional. So, I’ve spent a lot of time practicing slowing my life down and observing how others slow down, too. And I’ve noticed that there’s a misunderstanding out there of what slowing down means.
People confuse slowing down with resting. They think that they can live rushing from one task to the next, hurdling through their lives in a ball of tension as long as they take a few hours on Sunday to sit around and not do much (except scroll on their phone, of course).
While resting is good and necessary, it has nothing to do with what we’re discussing here. Slowing down isn’t just taking a break when you need it.
Slowing down is a superpower that lets you listen deeply, speak clearly, and choose wisely.
That’s because it’s something you do all the time. Slowing down and increasing your mindful awareness is a lifestyle change that starts when you wake up and stops when you sleep.
Slowing down is building more space into the present moment as you move through your work day, connect with your friends, and take care of daily tasks. It’s not about slowing down to a stop, it’s about stepping out of the low-grade panic that we’re always living in, bringing our awareness to the present, breathing deeply, and responding calmly and clearly to our lives.
The more you practice doing this, the more the tempo of your whole life will slow down so that you can stop living in a blur and start living with peaceful, intentional clarity.
How to slow down:
1) Pay attention to your body and mind as you go through your day. Notice when your body is tense, and your mind is racing.
2) When you notice this, disrupt your anxious momentum and slow down. Literally slow down your physical movements like you’re underwater. Stop twitching, fidgeting, and bouncing your legs.
Be slow, restful, and fluid. Doing this will send signals from your body to your mind that you are safe and there is no need for your heart to race or your mind to be in overdrive.
3) Then, take calm breaths, and when you exhale, relax all the muscles in your shoulders, face, and stomach. Repeat this several times.
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