THE ACTIVITY OF SLOWING DOWN

IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

(Taking Care of Spirit)

© Denise Morin 2008

           Do you remember the last time someone said to you “Take your time, think about it, and get back to me in two or three weeks”?  I bet it was a very long time ago, perhaps years.  You don’t hear that much these days; the era of being laid back enough to wait, give it time, and think things over with a clear mind before making important or daily decisions has passed us by decades ago and it’s getting worse as years go by.   By now you’re multi-tasking at work, at home, and your mind is running off tons of errands that need to be done, during lunchtime or after work, as you’re putting on your coat to leave in the morning.  We don’t have the time for socialising, family visits and normal verbal chats! 

          Is it any wonder in today’s world of speed and chaos that most people are exhausted, quick to anger - at home or on the road, and have no energy to raise their children the way polite and civilized society expects us to.  Humanity has brought us to this brink of madness and we keep feeding into it by keeping up the pace even at our own detriment and that of our children. We don’t have time for details that were once so important and made our lives that much more fun, exciting and full…so we let ourselves fall onto this non-stop merrygoround and go on trying to fit into the confusion and hope everything turns out fine for us and our loved ones. 

          The ideal answer to this swirl of negativity is to SLOW DOWN!  To a lot of people it’s not as easy as it sounds. However, when we put our energy into it, it pays back dividends.  Slowing down is good for the soul – you know that source of energy that lies within all of us that keeps us alive.  Well, that source called Soul sees so much turmoil and negativity that it becomes ill and shrivels up with burnout, depression, guilt, etc. It needs a break from physical, mental and spiritual stresses that attack it each day. The soul needs to breathe in Light, and to get its rightful share of repose during its lifetime on this planet.  We are not meant to live like this!  We are meant to enjoy every moment of life, to be in the present at all times and to relish the experiences that we allow ourselves to have; and yes even be thankful for those painful and difficult moments that give us growth. Growth, that’s what we’re here for, but sometimes our lifeforce needs replenishing for us to be able to go on.

          Give your soul a break today.  Take yourself away from the modern world to the quietest place you can come across. Find a space where you and your soul can be together alone without interruption from family, work, and electronics.  Take a leisurely bath; you know you deserve one. A walk in nature is calming and relaxing; sitting quietly in your own backyard is also enjoyable, especially if you have a tree to sit under.

          Begin by allowing yourself 15 minutes a day to practice beneficial breathing, getting away from it all, and after a short meditation, doing something YOU want to do. Not what is good for someone else…but what is fun for YOU.  Fun is another detail that your soul misses.  Fun de-stresses you and makes all the good chemicals flow within you, therefore cleansing the soul of stresses.  Do this for a while, work your way up to 30 minutes per day for YOU, and then bring that to one whole hour per day for YOU.  You will be blessed with more energy, vitality, and yes even more soul growth. Your family members will find themselves blessed having you around them in a more relaxed and energetic body.  And you will enjoy them more, discovering details of their life and personalities which you missed when you were in too much of a hurry.

          Once you get the hang of it, slowing down will come easily to you, (usually, after the third session you’re hooked). You’ll be able to see the situations more clearly and know where you can apply this new activity to your life.  Believe or not slowing down is an activity. It takes determination, energy and YOU.  Pass on your experiences in slowing down to your family.  Initiate your children in fifteen minutes per day. Begin when they are young enough to teach. Teach them that slowing down is not punishment but a time of re-energizing and taking care of the spirit that dwells within them. You’ll have them meditating with you in a short time. 

          Now go – do the activity of slowing down.  Make 2008 a year of refreshing moments in your life.  You’ll be so happy you did it! 

          Love and Light to all of You!

Denise Morin is a teacher of relaxation, meditation and visualization.  She gives seminars and workshops wherever she is invited.  Her ten-week course has proved valuable to all of her students from teens to elders.  She teaches that meditation can unstress quickly and bring peace of mind. You can reach her at denisenala@videotron.ca or by telephone at 819-682-0941.  For her website please go to http://Rachel-Light.tripod.com/  .