Wilfulness Wednesdays
“Slowing”- the gift you owe yourself
As we welcome “summer” with Saturday’s solstice (and the shortening of daylight), it’s tempting to focus on squeezing all we can into our next few months.
I’m guilty- I caught myself the other day- how can I plan for “all the things” I want to do in all of life’s spheres
Home
Social
Health
Business/career, etc.
We seem to be a society that promotes an addiction to dopamine with instant gratification and a life of speed and immediacy. Think about it- Amazon…. Voice-activated smart objects… “at your fingertips” access…. While certainly not our fault to have been conditioned to operate this way, it is our responsibility to re-condition ourselves.
We need to slow down and take a mindful approach to focus on the “present” and cultivate patience by deliberately choosing to place ourselves in situations where we simply have to be still, be action-free, wait and trust.
It is through the art of “slowing” that we reduce our pace, decrease our stress, and improve our overall well-being.
This morning, I built in time for silence and solitude – I took a lap around my backyard sanctuary and then sat on my patio in a state of mindfulness, being present with nature and myself.
I noticed the sensual gifts around and within me
· The choir of birds, including one I’ve never heard- the Great Crested Flycatcher
(Get the Merlin app if you don’t already have it!)
· The distant sound of an airplane and a dog
· The still air with a slight wind randomly brushing my body
· The savory taste of my butterscotch coffee
· The bright colors of my blossoming garden
· The morning dew on the soft grass on my barefeet
· The smell of last night's backyard fire
· The slow drift of clouds across the brightening sky
· A squirrel enjoying its breakfast on my fence
· My thoughts and self-beliefs centered on worthiness, attributes, contributions and pride, my priorities, and self-acceptance and commitment for my future me
· My deep and slow breathing, and calm heart rate
· My relaxed state, calm nervous system, and “ready to seize the day”
It reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John mark Comer, in which he promotes “slowing”.
There are so many benefits to slowing your body and slowing your life..
· Enhanced attention and focus with reduced distraction and mental chatter
· Increased creativity and solution-building
· Strengthened connections and more meaningful relationships
· Increased appreciation for the joy of life’s simplicity and experiences that we may otherwise overlook.
I strongly urge you to practice presence and create your calm and “in charge”.
1. Walk slower
2. Single task to improve efficiency- with your meal time and driving (drive the speed limit, choose the slower lane, no distracted driving, make full stops at the stop sign)
3. Prioritize being outside- nature provides a no-cost mental health nurturing, reducing cortisol and stress, and curbing anxiety and depression
4. Be mindful in taking deep, slow breaths
5. “Caboose it”- intentionally choose the longest of lines to get into
6. Take digital sabbaticals – Deactivate the smartness (automations and notifications) of your phone; set specific times for phones, TV's and computers; “Parent” your phone- put it to bed early and make it sleep in; Keep your phone off/in airplane mode as much as possible, and “ding-dong-ditch it!”- leave it behind as much as possible
A good colleague of mine, Jared Byer, HFC Corporate Wellness Educator | Health Coach (Jared.byer@made2movefitness.com), and I were just talking about this yesterday as we networked while walking. According to a 2012 report from ragan.com, 90% of people in the US check their phones immediately upon wakening. That is a crazy and super sad statistic!
We need to make our mornings sacred and set the tone for our days.
7. Take long vacations
8. Arrive 10 minutes early for appointments
9. Create rhythms for ease that reduce decision fatigue
10. Make purpose-aligned decisions that support “quality (not quantity) experiences”
11. Create your Zen - choose calm environments that foster focus and eliminate distractions, including the people you choose to invite into your space
I strongly recommend an audit and refinement of your community of support- your partner, family, friends, colleagues, etc.
Prioritize those who respect, honor, and support you- even if they don’t understand your investment in “slowing”.
12. Give yourself grace and shower yourself with the same compassion and accolades that you give others. Celebrate any and all of your efforts to slow your body, mind and life.
meichle@meichlelatham.com
716.539.0498
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