An Invitation to Slow Down

In listening to podcast interviews, reading articles and books, etc about people who have embraced slow living it is evident that for many people, though not everyone, the shift towards slowing down has a trigger. This is true for me... in fact I think there have been several triggers.

If you look closely you will see the signposts: Do you keep very, very busy and take on too much? Do you like to shop at any opportunity for that buzz you get? Do you drink a little too much because you like the relaxed feeling you get? Are you addicted to your devices and spend way too much time scrolling? There are many signposts that show us we are either avoiding having time to ourselves, or seeking an altered state from something fleeting.

The second thing to pay attention to is your body. Are you exhausted? Are you anxious? Are you angry? Are you in a funk? I always listen to my body, it is my number one ally and never lies.

I was that person, I kept ridiculously busy, so much so that I did burn out. In the end though time to myself was forced upon me after a relationship break up and a move up the coast from Sydney. At the time it felt like the end of the world but it turns out the break up was the biggest blessing... but just the tip of the iceburg. The beauty is that after a very turbulent time where my life unravelled in every conceivable way it stripped everything back to the bare bones and there I found what mattered... and myself.

I can't stress enough the importance of awareness but you have to focus your attention on the right things. When life is tough it's easy to see bad news at every turn - the world can be a very challenging place, with very challenging people. What actually helped me, believe it or not, was the internet and from there I developed a very healthy relationship with social media because it became my happy place and where I found like-minded people. People who are either incredibly talented in their creative practice or doing amazing things for the planet. Finding your community online, and even better still in your local area, will help you see all the incredible and selfless people we share this planet with. It fills you with hope.

Once you have obtained awareness of the world around you there is no turning back. I truly believe it sets you on a path of discovery where we become keen observers and see how everything is connected, it makes us feel the suffering like it was our own but it also makes us feel the joy. We start to experience joy in the things that matter, the things that have soul. So I invite you to embark on the wonderful, transformational journey to slow down.

Please note, I write this as someone with lived experience which counts for alot but I am not a trained psychologist or medical professional. While I can't fix things for you I hope that by reading this it resonates with you and sets you on a path to seek whatever professional or spiritual guidance that speaks to you to find your way back to your true self and what really matters.