Slowing down
Control your life speed with meditation
Daily responsibilities can sometimes find us rushing and fumbling to get things done - slowing down is important. We may be racing to catch the bus, hurrying at work, making a mess in the kitchen over a hasty meal. Whatever it is that warrants speed and swiftness can make us miss the subtle miracles that exist all around us.
If you feel you are always in a rush and need slowing down, or if your life has come to a screeching halt and you are forced to slow down, the following meditation will help you make the most of your new, slower pace.
For this meditation, adopt the adage that slow and steady wins the race. While life is certainly not a race, the call to slow down will offer many benefits in mind and in body.
Do it now
Begin by taking five deep breaths. Then, take five more but do it slowly. When you’ve slowed down your breath, take five more deep breaths, even slower than before.
Practice patience while breathing. This is only the beginning of the quest to slow down, so take your time until you feel comfortable with the rate of your breath.
After several minutes of slow and steady breathing, turn your awareness inward.
Take a few moments to listen to your thoughts, then allow them to slow as well. Resist all temptation to let your mind jump from thought to thought. Use your will to bring your thoughts to the slowest pace possible.
Now, with your slow breath, and your slow thoughts, open your eyes and take a look around. Wherever you are, notice what you see. Do not rush your gaze from object to object, simply allow your vision to float and land and settle on an image. Often during this meditation practice, we will discover something we overlooked or had not yet seen. Perhaps you notice a spider meticulously building a web just beyond your bedroom window. Watch it for a while. Notice the intricacies of its movements as it works. Maybe you see sunlight flickering over leaves on a tree, reflecting different shades of green.
Can you detect a new smell in the air? A new sound? All of these subtle wonders are food for the soul, and will fuel your creativity and imagination. But, you must slow down to gain the benefits. If you absolutely have to move quickly, remember this slowing down meditation and there will be no need for you to miss what miracles lie before you.
Jill Lawson is a writer and yoga teacher enjoying life on the island of Maui in Hawaii (jilllawson.net)
Om Magazine
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