Often, life can feel like it’s zipping by. And as a result, we feel obliged to accelerate our own speed along with it, turning our productivity into frenzied accomplishment. We find ourselves cramming as much activity as possible into the shortest periods of time. We disregard our natural rhythms because we think we have to keep up. In truth, rushing never gets you anywhere but on to the next activity or goal.
Slowing down allows you to not only savor your experiences, but also to fully focus your attention and energy on the task at hand. Moving at a slower place lets you get things done with greater accuracy, while rushing can diminish the quality of your work and your relationships. When we slow down, we are giving ourselves the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves to our natural rhythms. We let go of the “fast forward” stress, and allow our bodies to remain centered and grounded. Slowing down is inherent to fully savoring anything in life. Rushing to take a bath can feel like an uncomfortable dunk in hot water, while taking a slow hot bath can be luxuriant and relaxing. A student cramming for a test will often feel tired and unsure, whereas someone who really absorbs the information will be more confident and relaxed. Slowing down lets you become more absorbed in whatever it is you are doing.
Learning to step away from the rush in our fast-moving world can take practice, but if you slow down long enough to try it, you may surprise yourself with how natural and organic living at this pace can be.
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