Skip to main content

On the merits of slowing down

Don't we seem to go faster and faster these days? Working or studying, running errands, caring for family members, keeping up with the constant news flow and with social media, and so much more...
When, in all of this, do we stop and take a breath? 
You may wonder why this is important- isn't it good to be productive, accomplished, busy? I would argue that productivity only improves when we take a break (and our vacation days!), and that the pressure of continuous movement is not the only (or best) way to be. 
What do we miss when we rush? The opportunity to really be in a moment of connection, of insight, of growth. And perhaps we also miss out on the possibility to notice what, and who, is in our life, and how we feel about that.
I invite you to stop for a few minutes a day (you can put a reminder on you phone…), and just be.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Filling the Unfillable Void

I recently watched Rocketman, a film based on Elton John's life and music. Beyond the music, dance and costumes, the film tells the story of a painful childhood steeped in invalidation and harsh criticism. In one moving moment, after hitting rock bottom, John offers his younger-self what was not available to him emotionally from his parents. That short scene sheds light on a dual need- the historical need in nurture, warmth and acceptance and the present-day need to feel loved, appreciated and heard.  Not one of us can travel back in time to fill any needs that were not (fully) met and erase the pain of that deficit, and we all have the power to fill the void that continues to live in our present context. It takes work to develop this skill and to build a sense of emotional safety. I am always touched and grateful when I get to support individuals in this process and to witness their journey of self-healing.  As Elton John and Bernie Taupin co-wrote (in 2001):  I want lo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meditating self-compassionately...

Recently, I had a wonderful opportunity to attempt mindful meditation using a different approach- one that does not propose only noticing thoughts that come to our head while we attempt to meditate, but one that suggests actually following these thoughts, learning from them and even celebrating them, instead of viewing them as a distraction.  This approach invites acceptance, gentleness and kindness directed at ourselves, since there is judgment even in labeling various thoughts or feelings during meditation as distracting or diverting from the “real” purpose of meditation.  It was fascinating and exciting to see where the mind, body and spirit can go when blame, shame, guilt, and following meditation “rules” are out of the way! If we treat even our challenging feelings and thoughts with compassion and welcome them into our consciousness (inside and outside a meditation process), we can learn so much about our commitments, values, identity, that was otherwise unavailab...
Post a Comment
Read more

Holocaust Remembrance Day reflection

Brown eyes are a danger to have, No matter how pretty they may be, shaped like big marbles or almonds, They bring suspicion, they make you A non-human, deserving of humiliation, or hurt, or death, Whether you are a young woman who just married, a Rabbi, a barber, a poet, the village Shochet, or A brown-eyed baby. Brown eyes. Brown hair. Brown skin; Colourless compassion is needed. With immense gratitude to Ettie Miller, for sharing her family's painful and wonderful story of survival.
Post a Comment
Read more