Being in the Flow
You do not have to leave the comfort of your chair to receive the soothing benefits of slowing down
I would love to live Like a river flows, Carried by the surprise Of its own unfolding. --John O'Donohue
The ultimate spaciousness to me is the feeling of gliding through life without friction or resistance. Quite literally.
It’s the feeling you get when you’re floating down a river, watching the ocean waves come and go, meditating by a fountain, sitting by a crackling fire, or listening to a gurgling mountain spring.
Adopting a daily practice of slowing down unleashes all kinds of magic powers, which lead to greater ease and flow and morph into new habits that expand your sense of spacious well-being.
Or, to put it more simply, slow, flow, grow, glow . . .
In that order, cycling in a continuous, easeful loop.
For one student, a minute of slowing down “flips the switch” from effort to ease:
I need it [slowing down] . . . especially after a busy stretch when I am pushing myself too hard to stop and listen. Flip the switch—so easy, yet so out of reach sometimes, as if getting on a plane and flying to another world. Yet I’m learning it can be done instantaneously, and by choice. The one minute makes the idea of slowing down more bearable. And then, when I choose the minute of stillness, the entire flow of my day changes.
You never know what surprises might emerge or unfold when you’re traveling in the slow lane. It could be an unexpected gift of birdsong or church bells in the distance that transport you even further into heaven. It could be a call from someone delivering really good news. It could be the feeling you get when all the green lights seem to sync up just for you.
And here’s the thing: you don’t have to leave the comfort of your chair to get better at this slowing down thing and receive its soothing benefits. A song or video could be just the thing to soften resistance, quiet the mind, and calm the nervous system. 1
Ahhh 🏡
Week 4 — Slowing Down Challenge
What you’ve just read comes from “Go Slow, Let Flow,” Chapter 4 of A Year for You — the book we are using to cultivate the first of 5 steps to spaciousness: slowing down.
The extra goodies below — with weekly nudges from me and access to this community — is being made available to all paid subscribers.
It’s not too late to join us.
Learn more about the “Spacious Way to a Lighter You” clearing series HERE.