I probably don’t have to tell you that we move fast in our society. Everything is go, go, go. And we rarely take a moment to even think about it.
The truth is that we weren’t designed to move so quickly.
Our ancestors definitely moved, but did so with more purpose and intention. They were building, hunting… surviving. Not running to the closest Starbucks, Target, and then back to work, only to go out for the evening. It’s not even the full schedules. It’s the frantic energy. That can’t slow down, miss out on anything, or just be kind of energy.
This is hard on our kids, strenuous on our bodies, and exhausting to our spirits.
You might even start to notice signs that your body needs to slow down:
- Stress that feels panicky or like nervous energy. Energy that is unregulated or feels “always on the go”. You start to neglect yourself and your loved ones, and finding focus can be a great challenge.
- You get really clumsy. Even those blessed souls who are normally a little on that side recall a greater risk of clumsiness and heightened physical accidents.
- You might experience an uptake in physical symptoms like headaches, body aches / fatigue, stiff neck/shoulders, and eye twitching.
Panicky Stress and Nervous Energy
This is for the person who is perpetually busy, always occupied, and in constant motion. They might be a workaholic or someone who continues their day job into the evenings, on the weekends, and even while on vacation. They might find it difficult to rest and will often choose to keep going. This person may not stop at all, well, until something happens that makes them.
Neglect can become one of the most difficult aspects of this pattern. Oftentimes we see this type of person neglect their own selves, needs, thoughts, and joys. They can also be guilty of neglecting their family and loved ones.
Over time, this habit will interfere with their focus, productivity, and true accomplishments because this energy becomes desperate and totally out of balance. When we notice something very out of alignment in our lives or bodies, the universe creates an opportunity for us to course-correct that. Sometimes this comes across much harsher than it would have been if you just stepped back on your own accord.
The Clumsiness Clue
If you continue pushing this endless, destructive cycle, the universe will take over and give you a clue through clumsiness. You are falling down more than normal, tripping over things much more easily, and dropping items at a higher rate than you usually do.
This was me to the core. What about you?
It was the early 2000’s, and I was a kindergarten teacher. I was always rushing. I never stopped morning, noon, and night. I was leaving my classroom in a hurry (like normal), trying to get to my next destination quickly. My hands were full, and I had two trips to make. Honestly, I was too busy and stressed to do that. So I just grabbed everything and ran to my car. Unfortunately, the universe had something else in mind for me, and I fell down so hard. In my run to get to my car across the street as fast as I possibly could, I tripped on my own feet, fell into the street, and literally slid across half the street on my knee. Not only could I have been hit by a car, but I scraped my kneecap all the way to the bone. I had bits of street in my knee for weeks. That was after the doctor pulled out what they could with tweezers. They even suggested I get a tetanus shot.
That was the cosmic 2×4 taking over, as my sister used to say.
This became my first indication that I needed to slow way down..
This was the clue I needed to renegotiate my energy management. Now, when I start to move too fast, my body takes over. I have had a few more minor falls and trip-ups to help remind me of when a more appropriate balance of energy is required.
Increased Physical Symptoms
The thing that I have noticed is that stress of any kind contributes to physical symptoms, full stop. Your body will feel distressed by moving so quickly and never slowing down. That will ultimately affect your overall physical health. Not only do you run the risk of injury (from clumsiness), but it also increases your chances of suffering from all those aches in the head, neck, shoulders, and body that I mentioned before.
I mentioned the eye twitching as a possible physical symptom earlier on as well. The interesting thing about this one is that it is actually a stress response. You see, we use magnesium in nearly every cell of our body. What we get from food is limited. However, this mineral relieves muscle tension, provides a more stable physical comfort, promotes bowel regularity, supports sleep, and even helps to regulate mood.
What we have discovered is that the more stressed we feel or experience, even fast-moving physical distress, the more our body uses up that precious mineral. If it is not properly replenished, our body starts to suffer in a variety of ways. One of the most noticeable aspects is irritating eye twitches. This becomes the best way to understand that your body might actually be feeling enough stress to deplete cellular magnesium.
Is It Time for You to Slow Down?
Maybe you have resonated with the need to slow down a little in this fast-paced life we call. Because having awareness of it and intention to shift it is 99% of the work. You may know exactly what to do to address this imbalance, or you might not have a clue… But when you are simply open to slowing down, the rest will fall into place, thus becoming the opportunities, people, and support available to you.
Really, learning to slow down is about retraining yourself to create slightly more aligned habits.
Making the intention to slow down when you eat. Deciding not to drive so fast. Allow yourself a few extra minutes in the morning to get ready so that you are not feeling rushed. I also suggest no longer double or overbooking yourself if that is a habit you have. Finally, try integrating a night a week that you can take totally and completely off. Start training your body, mind, and soul to be more comfortable with taking things down a notch, now, before the cosmic 2×4 comes for you.
Where Does This Pattern Stem From?
We are definitely programmed early on in this culture to move quickly, or we might be seen as lazy or even ‘slow’. The “more important” we are (or think we are) gives the invitation that always being on is an indication of our true significance. This idea that no one can do it like us, or we are indispensable, and therefore it must be our responsibility…
Something else that I have noticed. It is the person who suffers in silence, maybe the highly sensitive soul, or the one who has experienced trauma, loss, or deep confusion in their lives. These are the folks that try to block out the ‘noise’ they hear by moving so fast they never have to stop to listen, to feel, or to acknowledge. This actually becomes their coping mechanism, so they don’t have to stop long enough to deal with what the real distress is behind the action. Once you slow down, you can’t shield it in the same way. You become open and vulnerable to the real feelings you were trying to consciously or unconsciously avoid thinking about in the first place. This seems like a bad thing, but it is actually a glorious form of growth, self-care, and genuine respect.
What More is There For You?
Creating a regular and consistent breathing practice is a wonderful opportunity to lessen the pressure in every cell of your body.
A fine motor hobby can be one of the best ways to retrain your body’s energy to slow down a bit. Activities such as jewelry making, puzzles, painting, drawing, sketching, or my favorite, coloring, will instill the need to calm your body in order to be productive.
Developing a variety of stress-reducing methods that become ongoing habits can literally change your body’s chemistry and how you respond to stressful situations or thoughts.
Learning various forms of meditation is a really helpful technique to train your body and brain to slow down. There are many resources available. Including numerous wellness apps that offer guided meditations specifically designed for stress, fatigue, and relaxation.
This is really about creating more sustainable habits that truly support you. Ideally, meandering through your day in a calm and balanced manner will pay off. You will actually accomplish more by being slower and more moderate than fast and frantic.
It is definitely a worthy endeavour to decelerate a little in your life, body, and soul.
