For many people, mornings don’t begin, they explode. When alarm rings, it’s like you have to get up and be ready for some battle. Once you are over hitting snooze button for about 6 times, you finally get up, toothbrush in one hand and phone in the other. You had water? Who cares? Breakfast? Who cares? Your toast is at the mercy of the toaster and your caffeine is getting stronger and stronger with every boil. The more important is to scroll through emails while wrestling with the socks.
Then every second reminds that Murphy’s law applies to your life only – your keys will be in the last place you look; you turn the key but the car doesn’t start and finally as you pull out of driveway, you suddenly realize that you forgot your wallet or an important file or ID, or your sanity. There is more to it – every single traffic signal is red, one super slow driver in front of you, a shortcut that completely shattered your schedule, and when you are finally about to park, someone else snatches the spot right in front of you.
Uff! I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch of things, but this is typical. Right? Well, who told you that life is easier or will ever be? We are in a constant rush stuck in fight or flight mode, chasing time like we can actually catch it. But who could ever? Well, when life already feels like a whirlwind, why add more chaos to it? When things don’t work your way, may be… just may be, it’s time to SLOW DOWN!
Many times, this slow down thing works miracles for me. When I am super-stressed and everything feels too much to handle, I simply choose to do things at my own pace – slowly and mindfully. Trust me, it is one of the most effective ways to ground yourself in the present moment. When you work slowly while keeping your mind focused on the task at hand, all the chaos in your mind suddenly quiets. The rambling thoughts begin to settle. Suddenly, even the most mundane moment starts to feel meaningful and calming.
Cooking a dish? Take your time and do it slowly – rinse the vegetables slowly, chop slowly, cook slowly. Bring your focus on every moment, every element, and every sound. Even placing a jug of water on the table or setting down dishes for serving, do it with intention and grace – composed and unhurried. Then savor that food slowly, enjoying its aroma and taste.
Brewing coffee? Grind the beans slowly, paying attention to the sound, and the simple beauty of the moment. Feel grateful for the privilege of slowing down and making a warm cup of coffee just for yourself. Let no other thought ruin this quiet joy.
As the coffee brews, let the aroma fill your senses. Listen to the gentle drip, watch it pour, and hold that warm cup of coffee in your hands for a moment. It’s not just coffee, it’s your ‘me’ time. Your life has found you deserving of this little pause, so don’t let any chaos or unwanted thought interrupt it. Live for yourself. Sip by sip, cherish every moment.
This is your moment of calm – a reminder that no matter how many lemons life gives you, you can still enjoy the moments you are worthy of. A reminder that even in all the noise of life, you can choose stillness.
Working on a project? Take your time- read through the details carefully, plan each step with a calm mind and work at your own pace. Don’t rush through it. Whether you’re organizing your work desk or typing an email, do it with grace and focus, as if there’s no hurry at all.
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Well, I have no intention of jeopardizing your job! I am not asking you to be not mindful of the deadlines. I am simply suggesting that you calmly focus on the task at hand. After all, stressing out won’t help you meet deadlines either. If you’ve planned well with a calm mind and approached your work with the same mindfulness, you are sure to be more productive and less stressed.
Let the strokes of your pen, the gentle rustle of paper, and the rhythmic tapping of your keyboard help you stay grounded to the present moment. Notice how they aren’t just tools, but companions – working with you simultaneously, supporting the execution of your thoughts, plans and ideas.
There are so many things in life we simply can’t escape – our daily accountabilities, responsibilities, and the constant demands that seem to pull us in a thousand directions. Slowing down is not a solution to any of the problems you might be facing right now – whether it’s financial struggles, relationship issues, professional pressures, or any other. Those issues will remain until the Universe, or you, start devising solutions around them.
But solutions cannot come from a broken mind. Before you work on bringing some goodness into your life, you must first acknowledge that you already have some of it. This realization, which comes from slowing down and getting grounded in the present moment, feels nothing short of amazing. It is stress-busting. It is empowering.
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