Go Slow Motion

“We begin to lose our hesitation to do immoral things when we lose our hesitation to do hurried things.” — Musonius Rufus

The Obstacle

We move fast.
From one thing
To the next
To the next.

Life can become hurried
A rush
A race
From one task
Obligation
Demand
Meeting
Request
Location
To the next.

Our mind somehow outpaces our body.
We’re on to what’s next mentally
Before we’re even there physically.

We’re bombarded with interruptions
Media
News
Text
Emails
Calls
Conversations
Demands for our attention and time.

We jump out of bed
Slam coffee
Rush out the door
Speed down the road
Dive into work
Wolf food down
We barely chew
Barely taste.

It’s hard to enjoy where we are
What we’re doing
Who we’re with.

Because we’re not really there.
This is doing
Not Being.

The Gift and Opportunity

If we can go fast
We can go slow.

If we rush past everything
Without noticing.
We can slow down
And notice.

The fine details
Intricacies
Sights, colors and contrasts
Sounds, near and distant
Feelings, textures and temperatures
The beauty surrounding us.

If we do just a few things a day
In slow motion
It reminds us
Slow the pace everywhere else.

Wash your hands slowly.
Feel each fold of each knuckle.
Feel the water run from wrist to fingertips.

Move from the house to the car slowly.
Notice the wind.
The sounds.
The smells.
The sights.

Eat slowly
Feeling each contraction of the jaw
Breaking the food down
Tasting
Nourishing
Enjoying.

Slow the pace of conversation.
Not just formalities.
Discover more
Understand
Appreciate
Connect.

Ask deeper
What was good about your day?

Invite conversation more beyond
How was your day?
Answer… Good.

Put yourself in slow motion
A few times a day.

With tasks you already do.

Do this every day.

Remind yourself to slow the pace.

To be here
Not just doing
Being.

The Practice of Self-Mastery

• Choose one ordinary task and do it in slow motion.

• Notice the physical details.

• Slow your conversations.

• Repeat daily.
  Let small moments retrain the pace everywhere else.

  CHEAT CODE: SLOW THE BODY → NOTICE THE DETAILS