Slow Down and Breathe

On your mark, get set, GO! It’s off to the races, go, go, go…Come on get going, now! Can you feel the shallow breathing, the quickness of your pace, and your thoughts being consumed with “what’s next?” It’s almost suffocating, isn’t it?

Thanks to blog read Lisa Lauffer for her inspiration as she shared that tip #27 from the Quick Tips for Daily Living blog post has encouraged her to “slow down”!

Here’s what Lisa had to say:

“I felt led lately to follow #27–sloooowwww doooowwwwwnnnnn. I mean really–what’s the hurry? Why am I trying to get through everything and get everywhere so darn fast? Aren’t I doing all these things so I can enjoy the journey of life? This single one-liner has led me to take many a deep breath and sink into my experiences, so that even if I’m scraping dried food off my countertop with my fingernail, I’m really engaged with that activity! And I’m loads more engaged with my kids. Life feels fuller, and I close my eyes at the end of the day with much more satisfaction.”

Ahhh, breathe into that?! Feel the spaciousness and life that comes with slowing down and breathing.

I want to invite you to slow down for a minute right now and breathe fully. And by the way, it doesn’t take any extra time for those of you with with an already full day!

As you breathe, contemplate the following questions:

• What do you notice around you? Become present to your surroundings.
• What’s going on in you? Check-in with your thoughts, your body, your heart to become conscious right now.
• What’s the wisdom from slowing down and breathing? Make a choice right now that will allow you to engage completely with today’s journey.

I’d love to hear the impact this has on you. Share your comments below. And keep breathing!