Years ago, an elderly gentlemen who observed me running a large-scale event, that I had planned for 6+ months, commented to my client saying, “The grass doesn’t grow under her feet.”
At the time I wore it like a badge of honor. Sit? No thank you. I need to keep busy. Take a break? Maybe later, there’s still work to do.
Then I learned that my “always on” stress response was driving that bus and my health (and happiness, quite frankly) required that I stop once in awhile. So I began exploring what it meant to slow down. I tried to get more sleep, and chill a bit more by watching TV, but that wasn’t doing it.
It all felt counterintuitive. At the time I thought I needed to go faster to get it all done and then I could take a break. Of course, as we all know and I was in total denial about at the time - all of the things will never “be done.”
The next step was purposeful, intentional “stopping.” It took some convincing by my functional medicine doctor and practice on my part but once I began meditating daily I learned the true value of slowing down.
Meditation is about creating space in your life. Space to pause and be aware of our own thoughts and feelings. That awareness opens the door to insight and inquiry beyond what we can achieve while we are busy caught up in our daily lives. The awareness also gives us the opportunity to look at situations with a different perspective and soften our reactive tendencies.
My meditation time is now a non-negotiable, daily requirement. Some may view sitting still, “doing nothing” in our fast-past culture as time wasted or lazy, but I can physically feel that my dedicated slow down is more productive than a Netflix binge. There is no doubt in my mind or body that creating space helps me nurture myself.
Nowadays, you may find me barefoot in the grass (with it growing under my feet and me appreciating it), pressing pause and breathing deeply. The practice is key to my daily productivity. Slowing down actually helps me be more selective and effective with my time.
How can you gain space in a world where EVERYTHING is vying for your attention?
Get clear on what deserves your precious attention by assessing where you spend your time.
Take distraction-free (read: no TV, no phone) breaks. Bonus points if you can do this in nature.
Connect with a person, listen intently to them and look them in the eye.
Consciously take some belly breaths - even just for five minutes. Have a few more minutes? Try these guided meditations I’ve created.
Need help finding your own space? I can help you access the peaceful place that exists inside of you.
