The quieter you become, the more you can hear. ~ Ram Dass
The slower you go, the more you see. ~ Zen saying
Perhaps Paul Simon had it right when, in 1966, he wrote; Slow down, you move too fast, you got to make the morning last.
With our busy schedules, we have legitimate reasons to feel the need to go go go. Many feel pressure to accomplish, to be productive, and to have an exciting life, yet how often do we pause during a hectic period and realize we are doing so much without noticing the magnificence of what is in front of us? Instead, we trudge on in a haze of exhaustion, aiming to hit the level of productivity we have set in front of us.
As we enter December, our circadian clocks are adjusting, so it is a time to welcome the rhythms of nature. The energy slows down, and the need to pause becomes an integral and necessary factor in rejuvenation. During this last month of the year, reflecting on what was, then surrendering or letting go of what no longer benefits us, allows room for the new year’s energies to enter and guide us.
To manifest what we desire, we must first make room for these new vibrations to come in. Two things can not occupy the same space simultaneously: doubt and certainty, love and hate, fear and trust, so when we take the initiative to allow things to leave us, we do not have less; we have more. We have more of what aids us, more of what we desire, and less of what holds us back or keeps us stagnant.
How do we benefit by slowing down?
Pausing allows us to have the space just to BE, the time to feel, and to be fully present to experience what is around us.
It gives us a chance to heighten our awareness and cultivate mindfulness. When we are in a place of being without doing, it allows us to have more compassion for others and ourselves. Doing so also changes our perspective of those around us and globally. By doing less, we will witness this truth for ourselves, guiding us to a more significant acceptance of our lives and developing peace within.
Refraining from chasing perceived external necessities can create a sense of calm and happiness. Contentment occurs when we realize that we have all that we need within.
Take time for yourself. Doing for ourselves is not an act of selfishness. It is a crucial step in the manifestation of our desires. Taking this time is not putting things on hold; it’s vital for our journey. Self-care is crucial. Making our wellness a priority ensures our ability to revitalize and recharge our energy.
It is like expecting our cars to run without fuel without taking the time to do this.
Our goals, obligations, projects, and life will always exist. How we manage it is up to us. If we don’t set boundaries, tiredness will eventually overwhelm us until we are forced to stop. And even then, if we do not reset our perception of why, we will fall back into the same pattern. There are two types of tiredness: one that requires sleep. Many of us ignore the signs when we need to rest and keep going. This will send us into a downward spiral if not heeded. The other requires peace.
When we are doing something we love or the passion of the project keeps us going for long hours, we may complete it with fatigue, yet the accomplishment overrides the contraries of that exhaustion. Why is this? We are hyper-aware or hyper-focused when we are in the zone of passion. This energy output does not drain us in the same way as burning the candle at both ends.
So, finding peace in what we are doing or how we are living is another crucial piece to living a life in balance. When we appreciate what we have and not what we perceive we lack, we are happier and have less stress or anxiety. This is abundantly clear when we slowly remove the metal from the pedal.
Life is a series of choices we are continuously making. Changing our perspective from one polarity to another can make a world of difference in our overall level of peace.
Slow down; you move too fast may be the mantra we recite when we find life speeding down the tracks, and we are holding on for dear life. Thank you, Paul Simon, for the reminder so many years ago. The signs are everywhere on how to live a wonder-filled life if we only slow down enough to hear and see them.
Just be. Just being in the moment in this place is the deepest practice of meditation. Most people cannot believe that just walking as if you have nowhere to go is enough.
~The Buddha
