There Is More To Life Than Its Speed

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“There is more to life than increasing its speed. - Ghandi

Living in the cult of speed may feel completely normal to a lot of people. As I discussed in my previous article I too have been guilty of living my life in fast-forward mode. It is easy to move too fast and try to accomplish so much that you get too busy for life itself. For those who have never thought about the pace of their lives the concept of slowing down may seem foreign and daunting. Here are some tips to take back control over the clock and live and enjoy life at a more peaceful pace.

 

Shorten your “to do” list

I recently went over to my neighbour’s house for a chat. He is a highly successful dental surgeon who has created himself from nothing. He is always calm and constantly has a smile on his face. He showed me his to do list for the day and I was shocked when I saw only three things on it. Success often comes in life not to those who are trying to accomplish everything but those who focus and calmly work towards accomplishing a few things. It is easy to get caught up in the pressures of overachieving in life and end up too busy and too stressed to finish anything. My neighbour’s advice was to make sure to leave space for life within your day to day goals, errands and objectives.

 

 

Breathe

Many of us are constantly on the go. We are forever going someplace or doing something. Make it a goal to leave a space in your day to do absolutely nothing. Either sit in silence on the couch or go outside in nature and simply “be”. Pay attention to your breath and feel your clothing on your skin. Be still and be grateful for being alive.

 

 

Exercise

We seem to have it programmed in us that exercise is a torturous activity where we must sweat and work to the point of pain and exhaustion. Many people run around all day in their work and personal lives and then exercise at the same frantic tempo.

 

The many benefits of a slower and more balanced life can be obtained through exercising at a more gentle speed. Exercise can be used as a way to re-connect with ourselves: body, mind and soul. The ancient arts of yoga, tai chi and qigong are great forms of exercise that are highly effective in stress relief, wellness and in slowing down. The practices go way beyond keeping us physically fit by also ensuring that our minds are strong and spirits are balanced.

 

Eat, drink, be merry

Another easy yet effective way of bringing slowness into our lives is by turning cooking and eating into a joyous celebration. This can be done by inviting over some friends, setting a table and lighting a candle with your meal. Use all of your senses while you eat: smell the aroma, feel the texture of what you are eating on your tongue and really taste the goodness of what you are putting into your body.

 

Appreciating food begins with putting effort and planning into what you are putting into your body. Start by buying your food at local markets where you support the local economy and in return get fresher and more nutrient rich food. Invest in a good cook book and make the cooking process an adventure and the final product a work of art.

The concept of slowing down can be applied to many facets of our lives. We can drive slower, make love slower, bathe slower, talk slower etc. Although there are things that are definitely meant to be done quickly it is highly beneficial to take the time to truly live our lives and enjoy the pleasures that being alive has to offer as opposed to unconsciously running through them.