On Slowing Down

Floras at Las Piñas Botanical Garden

In the pace of our society right now, it's easy to lose track of our life's progress. Tasks, events, and relationships can press on us simultaneously, leaving us frantic and overwhelmed. Such moments may leave us wondering if we're really advancing towards our goals or if we're just running around in circles. With no breathing room to pause or headspace to think, our life becomes shrouded in a vagueness that blurs our path forward. We become susceptible to burnouts and at worst, we lose our flair with living. We become disinterested, dispassionate, jaded.

Shall we continue living in such a dispirited state? 

It is counter-intuitive given our fast-paced society but it would be helpful for us to learn to slow down. To give ourselves a breather, and remind ourselves of our life's priorities.

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Taking a step back from our work may seem unproductive, especially when we have accustomed ourselves to our routines but it is helpful to understand that it is a step backward that will allow us more steps forward. Slowing down is simply a time to check if our gears are well and running. It is a time to review our course and make sure that we are working in the right direction. 

To slow down does not mean that we become lazy or sluggish. These are labels made by our workaholic persona. What's closer to truth is that we are giving ourselves time to connect with our life vision in order to see our path clearly and walk towards our goals with the right intent. So much of our energy and time are spent on wrong priorities when we don't have a clear picture of where we're headed. If we force our way forward without a clear map, we will be in places we don't want to be. It is just appropriate that we take time to set our course. 

By slowing down, we also get the chance to enjoy life's scenery. A view that we often disregard in the highway of our careers and personal affairs. A simple walk, an outdoor sports or appreciation of art are some activities that can reinvigorate our weariness. Some time set aside for travel can also be a great source of inspiration. Connecting with a friend we haven't talked to in a while also helps. 

Whatever the activity, at it's core, it must help us gain perspective on our lives so that we are informed on why we work or live at all. For it is in such innocent and joyful moments that life's most important facets unravel themselves. Our responsibility is to simply reconnect with them, let them fill us up, and embody them once we go back to our fast paced life. This time, our priorities are clear to us. Refreshed and informed, we can then plunge into the demands of our living with renewed focus and clarity. We become poised and more capable of building a life in harmony to our own choosing. 

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It is a fact that our lives have limited time but the best act to take is sometimes the opposite of what we tend to do. Such is slowing down. 

Like how we set aside time for work-related tasks, it is equally helpful if we give time for rest. A time unhindered by guilt and compulsion to act. A time spent in reflection and review of the most important things in our life.