Do you feel like you're caught in the trap of busy-busy-busy? So do most people.
You're making yourself crazy with “busy-ness” – we all are, even though it's making us sick and exhausted, and we're often sprinting through life instead of enjoying it.
We have no time to breathe, and that's exactly why we need to. You need to slow down.
Two years ago, I spoke at a conference for women attorneys. As I joked about this, one woman raised her hand and said, “I was bathing my 6 year old last night while checking email on my phone,” she said as she looked down at her lap. “I could have played with her. I should have enjoyed her. Time is going to run out.” I placed my hand on her shoulder in compassion.
I know I've missed precious moments, as well. And I bet you have, too.
Slowing down is a MAJOR pathway to HAPPINESS. Yes, you want to achieve, yes, you want to be successful. And slowing down HELPS you achieve more. Research shows that people who meditate are far happier than those who don't because meditation strengthens your pre-frontal cortex and therefore helps you more easily navigate derailing thoughts, and be more open-minded, creative, trusting, and connected. Put simply, slow down to speed up.
However, we have all been taught from the moment we went to grade school to DO, DO, DO. We're so busy DO-ing that we hardly know WHAT we are doing anymore – or more importantly, WHY.
- Why do you do your job? YOUR particular job? Not just to make money – but what is your purpose there?
- Why did you have kids? What would you like to experience and enjoy with them? How can you savor the moment more?
We also forget who we're BE-ing in all of the doing. And BE-ing is the most powerful thing you can “do.” Just after sending you an email on Sunday about the chaos of life, I got into my car and immediately noticed this sign just a block from my house.
I don't remember it being there yesterday or last week, but I'm sure they didn't just put it up because I sent you an email about slowing down. Rather, I have just always moved too fast past this very spot to notice. I'm always on my way to an appointment, to the grocery store, or running past it with my eyes on the ground grunting during my workout.
But Sunday, I slowed down. I pulled the car over. I walked to the bridge just beyond. I noticed the beautiful bridge in all of its glory. This is what I sometimes miss.
So I've been reminding myself to slow down and it's been wonderful.
When you slow down, what will you notice? What will you get to enjoy?
With so much love,
Carin
PS – I taped a video about the pull between “being” and “doing” a couple of years ago. You'll love it if you haven't seen it.
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