I Said “Slow Down” NOT Stop!
Hello Darling!
“What are you imaging will happen if you slow down?” I asked my client
She stared back at me, her face turning pale and then launched into all the reasons why her slowing down would eventually lead to her children having no shoes and her family living out their days in a cardboard box…
“Who would get the groceries? I wouldn’t get my payroll done, someone has to order supplies for work, the kids need help with their homework – what if they fail everything?? The house would be a disaster, I might miss an email or text message and what if it was important? My business would fall apart, my family would fall apart – if I don’t keep going we’ll all end up living on the street…”
When she stopped to take a breath, I gently reminded her, “I asked if you could slow down…I didn’t say stop everything you are doing and never get out of bed!”
She laughed…” You’re right. It’s just that my life is so overwhelming and if I’m not pushing to get through my to do list everyday I worry that something important will get missed. Slowing down just doesn’t seem to be an option.”
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
I’ve heard minor variations of this story from most of the clients, students, retreaters and readers I’ve had over the past 12 years. While some of the details are different, the end is always the same – everything will fall apart!
Here’s what I know to be true about this scenario. They are correct. Everything will fall apart – not because they slowed down but because they DIDN’T slow down. I’ve seen it over and over and over again. The problem is, if you don’t slow down at least occasionally, the Universe will find a way to slow you down and it’s not usually by winning a lovely pampering weekend at a spa with cabana boys! Trust me, nothing slows you down faster that having to lay completely still so that the radiation you are receiving for cancer doesn’t hit your heart or lungs!
This full out, all or nothing pace you are going at is slowly and quietly depleting you from the inside out. It is stealing the life and spark from your years. Have you been feeling frumpy lately? Forgetful? Short tempered? Brain fog? Maybe your friends have commented that they are experiencing similar symptoms and so you feel like it must be normal.
It’s not normal.
These are the symptoms of chronic stress – warning signs to get your attention, signs that are suggesting that a different path is needed. And this stress is wreaking havoc with our hormones, our sleep, our heart health and brain health.
So, please consider slowing down. You don’t have to stop, just consider paring back a bit. Get your groceries delivered, out source your laundry, set up a cooking co-op, refuse to answer emails after 9:00 pm, take your full lunch break, stop for 5 minutes to just sit and do nothing (not even checking your phone), trade your gym work out for a restorative yoga class once a month….and if you still think you can’t slow down, maybe its time you hired me to coach you (or hired someone – anyone – I don’t care). Just. Slow. Down!
Love,
P.S. My client did slow down and she told me recently that ever since she did her business has been making more money than ever! Just sayin’…..
P.P.S Need some help figuring out how to keep everything going while slowing down? Contact me for a coaching session, a private yoga class or join me at the next Way of the Happy Woman retreat!