Manic Monday or Slow Seconds?

“Stop beating yourself up. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.” ~Unknown

I started practicing yoga about seven months ago. I never imagined I would have grown to love it as much as I do.
It’s helped me through a transition from feeling aged and stuck to a new vitality and strength.

I have taken a deep dive into learning as much as I can about it as quickly as I can.

But yoga doesn't teach quickly. Yoga is a practice of the slow and steady. In fact, you really will not get as much out of the practice of yoga if you try to do it in fast mode. And I struggle with slow.

So in the struggle to learn about slow, I've started thinking more about slow. Here are some thoughts.

1. Slow teaches us patience.
And patience is its gift, especially during times when things are out of our control, and we have no choice but to wait it out. When we bring patience to gently moving toward a goal, we have it in reserve for when roadblocks get in the way (as they inevitably will).

2. Slow develops acceptance and gratitude.
When we rush headlong into what we want to achieve, we can get easily frustrated with any hurdle or slight delay. And frustration is unlikely to get us to our goal more quickly.
We also miss the opportunity to accept and be grateful for the small steps we take, those incremental achievements, and for where we are right now—for the good and the bad of everyday life.

3. Slow allows for small mistakes.
Rush at something and we run the risk of messing up big-time. Take it slow and we get the chance to experiment with small errors, helping us to grow so we can hopefully avoid bigger mistakes in the future. We have to learn our lessons, and we don’t learn until we allow things to sink in.

4. Slow makes room for other stuff.
When we want something, fast we can become obsessed with that thing, as though the goal has taken on a life of its own.
While it’s great to prioritize what we want, it doesn’t make sense to create an imbalance in our lives with one overwhelming obsession. Who knows what, and who, you might miss out on if you do.?

5. Slow builds resilience.
The lyrics “It’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees” might ring true, but I’m betting you’d still like to be around for a long life.
Slow is about building a legacy, and along the way, resilience. That can only be won through endurance.
Fast is ideal for igniting passion and showing courage, but who do you think is braver and more passionate? The person who sprints out of the starting block or the one who keeps going in the long distance?

6. Slow is seasonal.
Taking things slowly recognizes that sometimes we need to sit and deliberate, by fire or by the beach. We need to wait in faith for the universe rather than selfishly expecting our desires to take precedence.

We need to look at nature to realize that the seasons cycle at their pace, and we should always be willing to take things slower (and faster) as required.

Slow doesn’t have to be timid, or lazy, or less-than-smart. Slow isn’t a marker for fear and procrastination, nor apathy and indecision.

I can realize the benefits of slow that have snuck up on me in their own sweet time. And I am most grateful.
Slow isn’t dull and boring, but contemplative and considered. Slow is the yin in a very yang world.
Slow is the strength of surrender, and surrender can be the most powerful kind of victory.
Here's to finding some slow in your week ahead.
Cheers.