Why You Need to Slow Down

With all the resources we have at hand, why is it so hard to slow down and put our wellbeing first? Why are we so afraid to stop or pause even when we badly need to?

We’re a generation of hardworking, career-focused, health-obsessed overachievers who strive to be the best at everything. But would our worlds fall apart if we gave ourselves a break? It’s really about changing the conversation. It’s not about chasing the elusive prospect of perfection.

It’s about purpose. With all our best intentions and rich resources, why is it so hard to slow down, simplify, and put our self first? Why are we so afraid to let go?

During my journey to obtain a healthier; freer; more confident mindset and body, I learnt to invest in my thoughts and take care of myself.

Instead of chasing numbers on a scale or dropping a dress size in a week, I focused on identifying the feeling I wanted and that emotion would be my goal. I imagined how it would feel when I got there.

• What would it look like? Healthy.

• How would it feel physically? Comfortable.

• How would it sound? Like laughter.

I wanted to feel content; serene and free of my inner demons. Whether it’s a project, friendship or relationship, I know that, when I am emotionally attached to something, I’m more invested in it.

Why should it be any different when I’m working towards my goals of maintaining a healthy mind and body? A random number doesn’t mean much, but the feeling of confidence, to show up and be myself, connected in mind, body and spirit, was incredibly motivating!

Women have to take the time to focus on our mental health – take time for self, to nurture our emotional body, our spirit, without feeling guilty or selfish.

The world will see you the way you see you, and treat you the way you treat yourself.

Sometimes we externalise where we get our sense of comfort and security from – we invest into actions and activities rather than finding a secure base inside ourselves, an anchor.

If our base has been hampered in some way (illness, death, loss – all things familiar to me), we tend to seek our sense of security from things outside ourselves and they become the ‘container’ keeping us together.

All the activities we superwoman fill our lives with are great, but they should be done mindfully; that is, not by rote or to fill a void.

If we are to honour our truth and truly thrive, our internal world should be solid and secure. Perhaps before adding ‘sort internal self’ to your ever-growing To-Do list, consider the question “Am I enough as I am?”

The answer is probably, actually, NO – you’re even better!!

I’d like to help remove the pressure society puts on women to fit in a certain box.

Our drive to attain and succeed often comes at a great cost to our physical, mental and emotional well-being.

We are malnourished, if not starved, when it comes to compassionate self-acceptance, self-awareness and care. We yearn for simplicity but struggle to find it.

We ache for balance but can't sustain it. There is no time to juggle it all, let alone let go of the things and thoughts that have caused us to feel so overwhelmed in the first place.

It's about letting go of the things and thoughts that get in the way of realising your true nature and best life.

But how do you let go? If you don't feel safe, you won't let go.

It is not possible to lift and clear old habits, emotional debris and resisting behaviours – the stuff that weighs us all down and fools us into thinking that we can’t, we shouldn’t, or mustn’t, is not possible until you slow it ...way... down.

The transformation, I’ve learnt…is slow going.

In a world that is all about speed, this requires awareness. Daily doses of it.

When we release the habitual patterns that restrict and harm us, we feel empowered to walk our own path. Developing your relationship with YOURSELF is an inside job that begins and ends with you.

---

If you would like to craft a personalised self-care plan that works for you, find me at charmaine@selfcareforthecarer.com

For more regular updates, tips and insights on self-care and more, follow me on Facebook and Instagram @selfcareforthecarer.au or connect with me on LinkedIn.