I probably don’t have to tell you that we move fast in our society. It’s all go, go, go. And we spend little time even thinking about it.
The truth is, we didn’t move that fast.
Our ancestors certainly moved, but they did it with a greater purpose and intention. They built, they hunted… they survived. Don’t run to the nearest Starbucks, Target, and then go back to work, just to go out for the evening. These are not even complete tables. This is angry energy. It can’t slow down, lose anything, or just have some kind of energy.
It’s hard on our kids, it’s hard on our bodies and it wears on our spirits.
You may even notice signs that your body needs to slow down:
- Stress is similar to panic or nervous energy. Energy that is unregulated or feels “always on the go.” You neglect yourself and your loved ones and finding attention can be a big challenge.
- You are getting really stupid. Even those blessed souls who are usually few on that side, remember the greater danger of chaos and physical accidents.
- You may experience physical symptoms such as headache, body aches/fatigue, stiff neck/shoulders, and eye strain.
Terrible stress and nervous energy
It is for the person who is always busy, always engaged and always on the move. They can be an employee or someone who continues their day job into the evenings, weekends or even during vacations. They can find it difficult to relax and often choose to continue working. This person may not stop at all, well, until something happens that makes them.
Neglect can be one of the most difficult aspects of this pattern. Often we see such people neglecting themselves, their needs, thoughts and happiness. They may also be guilty of neglecting their family and loved ones.
Over time, this habit interferes with their focus, productivity, and true achievement because this energy becomes frustrated and completely out of balance. When we notice something in our life or body, the universe provides an opportunity for us to fix it. Sometimes it’s much harder than if you just came back on your own.
The key to stupidity
If you continue to perpetuate this endless and destructive cycle, the universe will take over and show you through the chaos. You land more than usual, fall over things more easily, and throw things at a faster rate.
This was me to the core. what are you
It was the early 2000s and I was a kindergarten teacher. I was always in a hurry. I never stopped morning, noon and night. I hurried (as usual) out of the classroom, trying to get to my next destination quickly. I had my hands full and I had two trips. Honestly, I was too busy and stressed to do this. So I grabbed everything and ran to my car. Unfortunately, the universe had something else in mind for me and I fell hard. In my run to get to my car as fast as I could across the street, I tripped over my foot, fell into the street, and literally slid halfway down the street on my knees. Not only could I get hit by a car, but I scraped my knee to the bone. I had street splinters on my knees for weeks. This was after the doctor pulled out what they could with tweezers. They even suggested I get a tetanus shot.
That’s when the universe took over the 2×4, as my sister used to say.
That was my first sign that I needed to slow down.
This was a sign that I needed to rethink my energy management. Now, when I start moving too fast, my body seizes up. I’ve had a few more minor falls and walks to remind me when a more balanced energy balance is needed.
Increase in physical symptoms
What I have noticed is that stress of any kind contributes to physical symptoms, complete cessation. Your body will be overwhelmed by moving so fast and never slowing down. This ultimately affects your overall physical health. Not only do you run the risk of injury (from the mess), but it also increases the likelihood of all the head, neck, shoulder, and body pains I mentioned earlier.
I’ve mentioned eye twitching as a possible physical symptom before as well. The interesting thing is that it is a stress response. You see, we use magnesium in almost every cell in our body. What we get from food is limited. However, this mineral relieves muscle tension, provides lasting physical comfort, promotes bowel regularity, supports sleep, and even helps regulate mood.
What we have discovered is that the more stressed we are or feel, even rapid physical anxiety, the more our bodies use up these precious minerals. If it is not replenished properly, our body suffers in many ways. One of the most noticeable aspects is the dizziness. This is the best way to find out if your body can actually experience enough stress to deplete cellular magnesium.
Is it time for you to slow down?
Maybe you’ve been buzzing with the need to slow down a little in this fast-paced life we call it. Because awareness and the intention to change it is 99% of the work. Maybe you know exactly what you need to do to close the gap, or maybe you have no idea… But when you’re just open to slowing down, the rest will fall into place, and so will your opportunities, people, and support.
In fact, learning to slow down is retraining yourself to create slightly more consistent habits.
To intend to be weak while eating. Decided not to drive so fast. Give yourself a few extra minutes in the morning to get ready so you don’t feel rushed. I also recommend not doubling up or overbooking anymore if that’s a habit of yours. Finally, try to incorporate one night a week that you can totally and completely switch off. Start training your body, mind, and spirit to feel comfortable with things at a lower level, now before the space 2×4 comes for you.
Where does this pattern come from?
We are definitely programmed early in this culture to move fast, or we can be seen as lazy or even “slow”. Our “more important” (or we think we are) gives the invitation to always be a sign of our true importance. This idea that no one else can do it like us, or that we are indispensable and therefore our responsibility must be…
Another thing I noticed. This is a person who suffers in silence, perhaps a highly sensitive soul or someone who has experienced deep trauma, loss or confusion in their life. These are people who try to move the “voice” they hear at such a fast pace that they never need to listen, feel or recognize it. It actually becomes their coping mechanism, so they don’t have to stop long enough to deal with what the real anxiety is behind the action. When you slow down, you can’t protect it the same way. You become open and vulnerable to real feelings that you consciously or unconsciously wanted to think about in the first place. It sounds like a bad thing, but it’s actually a glorious form of growth, self-care, and true respect.
What else is there for you?
Create a regular and consistent breathing practice It is a great opportunity to reduce stress in every cell of your body.
A good motor hobby can be one of the best ways to retrain your body’s energy to slow down a bit. Activities like jewelry making, puzzles, painting, drawing, sketching, or my favorite, coloring, require your body to relax in order to be productive.
Developing different stress reduction techniques that become permanent habits can literally change your body chemistry and how you react to stressful situations or thoughts.
Study different forms of meditation is a really useful technique to train your body and brain to slow down. There are many resources available. Including numerous wellness programs that offer guided meditations specifically designed for stress, fatigue and relaxation.
It’s really about creating sustainable habits that really support you. Ideally, spend your day calm and balanced is given. You’ll actually get more done going slow and steady than going fast and furious.
It’s definitely a worthwhile endeavor to slow down a bit in your life, body and soul.
