Speeding through life causes us to miss out on it. And the opposite is true as well: When we learn to slow down, we give ourselves the time to see life and all its wonders. We are able to stop, pause, look around, and observe what is right in front of our eyes to appreciate. Living well and finding happiness in the present moment come when we learn to slow down and see, hear, and feel our surroundings and connect with others.
But despite any desire, you may have to slow down, for you, doing so many be a case of “easier said than done.” How do we create the time and space to stop missing out on life and appreciating the beauty around us?
Once we realize we’re missing out on life, we are ready to begin practicing slowing down. Initially, this will feel uncomfortable. Like learning any new skill, the first steps will not come naturally. But with practice, we will master slowing down to the point where speeding through life will eventually feel unnatural.
The practice begins with identifying areas where we speed through life. Rather than tackle the big ones—for instance, intense careers or relationships—let’s start small.
When we slow down, we see life and all its wonders. Rather remaining stuck in our head, which is often a very stressful place to be, we realize there’s always something beautiful to appreciate around us right here and right now.
