Transition Dynamics

Seasons of Change Article

The Power of Slowing Down

As we pass the midpoint between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice, we watch as nature slows its pace.

If you are attuned to the Seasons you may be feeling the desire to slow down, turn inward, and create a refuge for the Winter ahead. Listen to your longings.

If you are in transition and not listening to the signs of nature, you may be struggling a bit--trying to keep up the Summer pace even though times have changed.

Your valiant attempts to stay productively in motion may be creating unanticipated and unwelcome consequences:

~~Frequent feelings of frustration and agitation.

~~Annoying behaviors like locking your keys in your car, misplacing your keys or wallet, dropping things, closing a program when you meant to close a file.

~~Physical sensations associated with exhaustion like a sore throat, tension, shallow breathing, headaches.

Our first inclination when we experience these side effects of our actions is to push harder. After all, we have to keep producing at the rate we've been producing or we may have to face that something is amiss.

And yet, the harder we push, the worse the side effects seem to get. Perhaps we lash out in anger more easily or the final straw of the day triggers the tears we've been unconsciously holding back.

Your Best Strategy

It's likely you are receiving many signals that say -- STOP! At first the signals will be subtle, but if you don't listen, the signals just keep getting louder and more insistent until you have to stop and pay attention.

~~Listen to your body -- especially if you are in pain.

~~Pay attention to your emotions -- especially if you feel like you are at the end of your rope emotionally.

~~Track your thoughts -- especially if you are overwhelmed.

~~Notice your behaviors -- especially if you are in motion all the time.

~~Listen to your tone of voice -- especially if you find you are short with others.

Although it seems counterintuitive, the best action in times like this is to slow down. Do what you can to attend to the signals earlier rather than later.

Although its sometimes scary to stop because you don't know what's wrong or what you should do next, I encourage you to explore the idea before your soul's signals become extreme and dangerous (in the form of accidents, health challenges, irreparable shifts in your relationships).

Making a conscious choice to slow down is an empowering decision. If you've never done it before, give yourself the gift. If you have slowed down by choice in the past, remind yourself of the benefits.

How to Slow Down

Making the decision to slow down is one thing. Taking the "actions" to slow down is quite another! When you are accustomed to being in action all the time, it's sometimes hard to figure out how to switch gears. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Listen to soothing music in the car or at home. Rather than listening to high energy music or talk radio, let your soul follow the beat of soothing music for a change.
   
   
2. Set aside time each day to sit--even if it's just for ten minutes at a stretch. Ideally you'll find an area in your home you can claim as your refuge--a comfortable place you can go whenever you are feeling out of sync with the world.
   
   
3. Use a breathing exercise to quiet your mind. There are a number of possibilities here. One option is to inhale to the count of six or eight, hold for the same count, and exhale for the same count. If you'd like, wait another count of six or eight before you take your next breath. Allow yourself to focus on just your breath for a few minutes each day.
   
   
4. Spend time walking in nature or observing nature from your window. Each day look for new signs of the winter that's coming on. If you don't have much time to spend outside, put part of your commute to good use. While you drive notice the sky, the trees, the flowers, and the birds you pass as you drive.
   
   
5. Play with an intuitive deck or read an inspirational book of poems or quotes. Take time to ponder the cards you pull or the quotes you read. What insight do you gain about your situation?

Start small. Don't expect miracles immediately. Remember, this isn't about performance. This is about slowing your own pace. Experiment. Try different things. See what feels best to you. Create a ritual you follow each day or listen to what you need in the moment. There are no rights or wrongs here...as long as you are finding ways to slow your pace.

Benefits of Slowing Down

As you sink into your new practices, notice how your experience of yourself and your life change. You may notice that:

1. You reconnect with yourself at your core. With time to yourself, you remember/discover the things that make you...YOU!
   
   
2. You "hear" more...within yourself, in conversations with others, through the nonverbals you see around you, and in nature.
   
   
3. Your priorities come into focus. Don't be surprised if you begin to notice that you value your time alone and the time you spend with others who are exploring who they are.
   
   
4. You don't put up with things you know don't work for you. Because you are clearer about who you are and what you stand for, it's clearer what is not in sync for you.
   
   
5. You feel calmer and more centered within. Your mind quiets which allows you to catch insights as they appear.
   
   
6. Your intuition kicks up a notch. You make connections between ideas and thoughts more quickly.
   
   
7. You become more open and receptive to new ideas, options, and possibilities. You actually see them as they take shape.
   
   
8. You are more willing to take care of yourself by saying Yes to the things that support you in the long run and No to things that force you off your path.
   
   
9. You get in touch with your dreams, desires, and longings. Pay close attention to these for these are the clues that lead you to your new future.
   
   
10. You enjoy the sweetness of each moment as it unfolds. Sometimes a moment can highlight a new insight that is so powerful it impacts how you see your entire world.

Ultimate Goal of Slowing Down

When we are in transition, our bodies ask us to slow down when we aren't attending to our own needs.

The ultimate goal isn't to slow down...that's just a part of the preparation for the big event. The ultimate goal is to reflect purposefully on our lives to find new ways to see ourselves, our situation, and our future.

Don't get discouraged if new insights take time to appear. You can't actually make insights happen, you can only prepare an environment where you are open and receptive to catching new ideas as they appear. The key, once you've slowed down and opened to new possibilities, is to ask yourself new questions. Those new questions will lead you to discovering new answers.

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