The Art of Slowing Down

Anecdotal Anatomy

This is a conversations we should revisit periodically, especially since we can get caught up the "race" before noticing we are rushing. This episode is all about the importance, benefit, and practice of slowing down.

The hosts are so passionate about this topic, they are offering two events that are all about finding that sweet spot between doing and being. Discover Your Excellence - The Art of Slowing Down is a FREE 90-minute event on Zoom (Saturday, 6/17 from 11-12:30pm) * The following weekend is the Spring in-person event, Rhythm & Rhyme Retreat - Reset & Re-Story (Saturday 6/24 & Sunday 6/25) Click either title to register.

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:00 - The Art of Slowing Down

Theresa reflects on the culture of productivity and multitasking and how it can cause people to miss out on the moments in life. She highlights the benefits of slowing down and the importance of finding balance.

00:02:00 - Slowing Down and Resting

Even when faced with the need to slow down and rest, some people resist and push themselves to keep going. Theresa discusses the importance of taking breaks and finding time to reflect, notice, and appreciate life.

00:05:18 - The Benefits of Slowing Down

Theresa emphasizes the benefits of slowing down, including increased creativity, reduced stress, deeper relationships, and increased self-awareness. She acknowledges that for some people, slowing down can be difficult.

00:09:38 - The Difficulty of Slowing Down

Theresa and Sherry discuss how difficult it can be for some people to slow down, especially in our culture of productivity and multitasking. They highlight the importance of finding balance and taking breaks, even in the midst of busy schedules.

00:12:04 - Awareness and Focus

The conversation turns to the importance of awareness and focus in slowing down. Theresa and Sherry discuss the periphery of our senses and the need to find a single point of focus, even as we take in information from all around us. They also touch on the idea of energetic storms and the need for awareness and focus in navigating them.

00:15:35 - The Art of Slowing Down

The discussion begins with the fable of the tortoise and the hare. The hosts asked their audience what they learned from it and received various responses. The key takeaways are to slow down, be patient, and consistent, and not to assume others' strengths.

00:18:28 - Our Default in Society

Our society is programmed to move faster, and it can be challenging to slow down. It's essential to recognize when speed serves us and when it doesn't. We need to align our natural energy signature and find balance between speeding up and slowing down.

00:23:02 - Embodying the Art of Slowing Down

The host shares her experience of slowing down during her morning walks with her dog. She noticed the details she was missing and her frustration with being compliant while wanting to be in control. It's a reminder to be human and recognize our natural tendencies.

00:25:29 - Porous Identity

The hosts discuss how identity is porous, and we don't behave as if it is. We have a natural tendency to embody the things we've always believed about ourselves. It's essential to question our beliefs and not believe everything we think.

00:27:22 - Our Natural Rhythm

The hosts discuss the belief that our natural rhythm is determined by our environment and how we manage pace with people. They encourage listeners to recognize their natural rhythm and find balance between speeding up and slowing down.

00:29:02 - The Irony of Rushing to Slow Down

Sherry shares her experience of rushing to a yoga training to learn about slowing down. She highlights the irony of the situation and the dichotomy of rushing to a training that teaches about slowing down. The conversation focuses on societal expectations, fear of missing out, and internal pressure of perfectionism that make slowing down challenging.

00:31:07 - Resistance to Slowing Down

The hosts discuss the resistance to slowing down. They mention societal expectations, fear of missing out, internal pressure of perfectionism, and addiction to busyness. They also mention the importance of finding balance and embracing the activity of rest and restore.

00:33:45 - Embracing a Balance of Yin and Yang Energy

The hosts discuss the balance of yin and yang energy in their lives. Sherry shares her experience of being busy and multitasking in her job and finding balance with spending time with her sons. They also discuss the importance of focus and how slowing down can increase productivity.

00:37:15 - Life-Work Balance in Different Cultures

Sherry shares her experience of visiting the Netherlands and observing the life-work balance there. She highlights the importance of embracing life outside of work and finding balance. The hosts also discuss the next generation entering the workforce and their focus on work-life balance.

00:41:35 - Slowing Down to Accomplish Everything

The hosts discuss the importance of slowing down and finding balance.

00:44:20 - Benefits of Slowing Down

The hosts discuss the benefits of slowing down and how it can lead to self-awareness, conscious decision making and a deeper understanding of oneself. They suggest finding tools or practices that help to slow down, such as audiobooks or gardening, and emphasize the importance of being intentional and deliberate in one's actions.

00:45:19 - The Art of Slowing Down

The hosts discuss how slowing down is an art and a personal journey. They suggest that it's important to recognize the value of being slow rather than vilifying it and to find a balance between effort and ease. They also encourage listeners to pay attention to the signs around them that may be guiding them towards slowing down.

00:46:16 - The Power of Choice

The hosts discuss how slowing down is a personal choice and journey. They encourage listeners to trust their choices and to recognize that even challenging choices have lessons to teach. They also emphasize the importance of taking the time to feel into different decisions and choices to gain self-awareness.

00:47:30 - Embracing Slowness

The hosts discuss how those who already identify as being slow can work with their slowness in a different way. They suggest that it's important to understand the value and benefit of being slow and to find a balance between being slow and fast. They also encourage listeners to honor their own journey and not to be concerned with the judgments of others.

00:58:28 - Creating Space for New Growth

The hosts discuss the joy of creating space for new growth, emphasizing the importance of consistency and commitment in gardening. They reflect on the lesson of the tortoise and the hare, and the need to remember that slow and steady wins the race.

00:59:41 - Learning and Forgetting from the Tortoise and the Hare

The hosts explore the messages we learned and forgot from the story of the tortoise and the hare. They emphasize the importance of humility and steady commitment, while noting that charismatically confident personalities can also make an impact when combined with compassion and honesty.

01:00:54 - The Power of Steadiness, Commitment, and Consistency

The hosts reiterate the importance of steadiness, commitment, and consistency in achieving one's goals, regardless of pace. They reflect on the idea that it's the journey that matters, and emphasize the need to avoid the trap of Bombast - or arrogant overconfidence - that caused the hare to lose the race.

01:01:45 - Thank You and Goodbye

The hosts thank listeners for their support and for inspiring candid, contemplative conversations. They invite listeners to continue on their own journeys of discovery, taking detours and meeting mysteries along the way.

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Mentions from the Show:

Ikebana (web Japan)

The Tortoise and the Hare (story arts)

The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

The Perfect Cup of Tea (The Spruce Eats - NOT the same article as the one mentioned in the episode)

Our Amazing Team:

Judith George - Editor (video & audio)

Keith Kenny - Music

Cindy Fatsis - Photography