I don’t know about you, but it is REALLY hard for me to slow down. My motor is going 100 mph at all times full speed ahead!! ALL GAS NO BRAKES.
It’s great when you need it, but the issue is that doing too much, not focusing on one thing at a time, trying to do it all, takes a toll.
Your mind can only focus on one thing at a time, and when you try to multitask, you’re actually wasting a TON of energy from task switching (which is what you’re actually doing instead of two things at once.)
Doing too much causes me to stress out. It causes me to rush my work. It causes me to keep my mind in the future instead of in the present, and the present moment is where life is happening.
Even with workouts, I try to do it all. “I didn’t sleep perfectly, but I’m going to make it up with an hour long grueling kettlebell session!” (Probably not what I need, but my habits and mind that can never get enough is telling me to keep going.)
Or take a hike, pull out my yoga mat and do some poses on a secluded trail, and then go dancing for 2 hours. (Yesterday’s activities.)
For me, the result is that I’m overstimulated and I am stuck in this “fight or flight” mode that’s hard to calm down from.
For a LONG time, this wasn’t even an option. I would do just one 15-minute walk and wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week.
I would be so out of touch with my true self that I forgot who that even was.
It took me a long time to learn to slow down and learn techniques to de-stress and re-center.
When we enter that rest/digest or calm/connect zone, we enter a state of healing, of deep connection, of peace and joy.
It’s the most important lesson I’ve learned.
The great Abraham Lincoln says “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I’ll spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
To make the most of the present moment, you have to be centered. You have to listen to your body and give it what it needs. You have to calm down and connect so you can show up and give the world everything you’ve got. And whatever that is, is enough.
Does it need activity? Does it need silence? Does it need nourishing food or community? Does it need a dance break or a good laugh?
The world is abundant and just because everyone else seems to be rushing off to do amazing things, doesn’t mean you’re behind.
It just means that it’s not your time yet. You have some work to do in other areas.
Slow down. Your time will come.
If you want to learn how to slow down, I’ll be putting on a course called “The Art of Slowing Down” which is a 6 week course designed to help you take a step back, so you can live your life to the fullest again.
We’ll discuss breathing techniques, gentle exercises, healthy habits to implement, how to bring about calmness and peace into your surroundings and more.
Shoot me an email for more info or sign up here.
