How can I embrace Slow?
In a world filled with quick hands and feet, with every important petition that wants our endorsement, and every trending technology that screams “You Snooze, You Lose!” how can we embrace slowness?
Embracing slowness is hard. Embracing slowness is also, ironically, an anecdote for a more productive life. The longer I sat with myself in the quiet void, the more profound this fact became.
The scriptures of Yoga have emphasized this point many times: the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind is the practice of Yoga. [ Yoga Sutra 1.2: Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodhah ]
And what exactly does that have to do with embracing slowness?
As I took time and heart to observe the fluctuations of my mind, I noticed the amount of mental movement, knee-jerk forecasting, and endless to-do lists I’ve naturally picked up as a way of information digestion and quick regurgitation. It was a thoughtless practice that became an unquestioned, non-disputed norm.
The turning point arrived when a pause was encouraged for me to be less reactive, and more receptive. I call this “the cold turkey of an addicted mind”. There is nothing beautiful about coming clean, except for the honest confrontation of self. As I observed the flow of my thought streams, I pictured how the mind has been figuratively possessed by the monster fed with fear, the crippling maggots along the crevices, and the unhinged houseflies feasting on trash. It is carnage.
“It will be overly ambitious for us to think we can conquer a high-altitude climb without gradual training and acclimatization. Just like the body takes time to adjust to changes, so does our mind. Beguiling the mind to claim high peaks is life-threatening when we don’t know what we’re in for, nor have we cultivated the right aptitude for it.”
As a student of Yoga, a seeker of Life, embracing slowness isn’t a privilege. Embracing slowness is our responsibility.
When we slow down, we can create space to resolve confusion. It can be uncomfortable to sit with the overwhelming feeling of discomfort. But as the famed quote we all know reads, “The only way out is through.” When we patiently allow the decrease of speed to reveal both the trash and treasure of our perception, we can begin to declutter and cleanse away the identities that do not belong to us or matter anymore. The steady environment cultivates a calmer mind for better discernment, and the cycle continually reaps benefits that will eventually, reveal lasting peace.
“Imagine a world that is doing less – less harm, less drama, less productivity – we might reach a new awakening when we realize that we’re all rushing for nothing.”
So how am I personally embracing slowness? I ask myself these questions:
1. Why the need for speed?
By imposing this question on myself, I am quickly realizing my thirst for speed (for example, the desire to quickly resolve, explain, or express myself in all situations). I learned to pause and question my intentions, and if they are necessary.“Have I learned to run at the speed of others and neglected my needs?” This helps me better categorize my reactions as ‘fear-based’ or ‘truth-centered’.
2. How am I cultivating my mind?
Have I mistaken waste for nutrients to strengthen the mind? By keeping tabs on what I input into my mind through my sense faculties, I am tending to my inner garden with proper fertilizer and nourishment. The mind is less susceptible to pests when there are proper barriers and filtration to nurture clarity within my internal system.
3. What is my relationship with social media?
I found an unhealthy relationship with social media was detrimental to my quest for slowness. In a digital era where information is abundantly accessible (sometimes too abundant), appearing on your screen like a self-invited guest, it is no wonder we are constantly comparing our self-worth through the warped lens of “perfection” on screen.
Periodically, implementing a digital detox (with a timeframe and frequency of your choice) can help build a fortress for the mind to be less reactive to external opinions.
Some of these pointers helped me to further clarify my relationship with social media:
What is my intention and purpose when I engage with social media content?
What will be an appropriate time and duration for social media consumption?
Were there instances when I felt left out, lacked, or had the impulse to take quick action when consuming social media content?
How much do I value virtual relationships versus actual relationships?
We don’t have to tackle all aspects of our lives at once. But we can gradually make changes to the way we perceive our reality by slowly creating space for introspection and realignment.
Leaving here one of the most impactful poems I’ve received and hope to embody, written by the 15th century Indian poet, Kabir.
May it show you the answer to your question —