Do you catch yourself pondering how fast time seems to be going? Does life seem to be moving at warp speed for you? Have there been moments where you long for a slowing down cadence to move at a more reasonable pace of life?
This past week, I read a quote from Robert V. Taylor. The inspirational saying was only three words, and I couldn’t get past the first word.
The word, pause, literally made me stop and think, as well as appreciate the value of its order, first in the sequence of the three words.
Within this flurry of life, there are five initiatives that can help you slow down, re-focus, and reset your priorities or goals in life. I give credit to Robert V. Taylor for the first three. As I reflected on the profundity and simplicity of his message, I thought of two more – commitment and action.
The five initiatives for slowing down in life
1. Pause
2. Breathe
3. Listen
4. Commit
5. Act
Step 1 – Pause
Pause, a temporary stop or rest. It is the intentional cessation of activity to stop and reflect or take a moment of quiet. In music, the pause is called a rest, and the rest means silence. An intentional pause can be silence or it can be a deliberate stop from the usual routine in life to re-center your life on the essential.
The pause is the first initiative when moving toward further reflection or action. The pause can be as simple as a moment to catch one’s breath in a very chaotic time before moving to the next activity. Or, it can be the trigger for slowing down, for taking your time, for doing something different, for hitting the reset button on your life.
Step 2 – Breathe
Breathe. Inhale quiet. Exhale worry. Allow the rhythm of your breathing to draw you to a deeper awareness of your inner stillness.
Step 3 – Listen
Listen, the art of paying attention to what really matters in life. Hear with the soul and heart of your being as you seek to understand. Be mindful of just being in the present moment, while you absorb the energy of longing.
Step 4 – Commit
Commit, the deliberate internal resolve to take action, to respond, to do something that will make a difference. Commitment begins with the mindset to move forward, giving your trust to the desire to take one small step toward change.
Step 5 – Act
Act, the process of doing. Bring forth into reality that which you desire. The time of thinking is over. Your desires are now aligned to what you want. It is time to step into the results with alacrity.
You don’t have to do all the steps in one day or even in one sitting. When you can, take a moment or an extended length of time to pause, breathe, listen, commit, and act. Take your time through each phase. And, if you only get to the first step, the pause, then that is enough for now.
Pause.
Listen.
Breathe.
Pause again.
Commit.
Take action.
One step forward.
Be.
Do.
Breathe.
Act.
It all begins with the pause.
What steps do you take to slow down in life?
I welcome your comments.
Special thanks to Robert V. Taylor for his inspiration and witness.
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