The challenge of slowing down

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves is slowing down. But it can be a difficult endeavor. Because to slow down means to give space and where there is space the essence of our inner world has room to breathe. Not everyone wants to become friends with their inner world. In my western context, society values productivity, which happens to be an excellent distraction from ourselves. 

If we never pay attention to what our creator asks us to pay attention to within ourselves, the inner life will seek attention in other ways. Perhaps it’s our bodies, our emotional health, or our mental health that will suffer. Perhaps it’s our loved ones who will suffer for lack of attention, affection, and presence. 

From personal experience, I know I have not been giving my selfhood room to breathe, nor my ears the stillness to hear, when I start pointing fingers at everyone but myself. And if that’s the path I follow for too long, I miss a myriad of opportunities to be my true self, how God created me and invites me to continue to grow into. When I see the fault in others instead of their imago dei (as created in God’s image), I’ve lost the plot and the point on my own imago dei as well. 

Sitting with yourself and the Divine won’t solve all of your problems, but it will create space for beauty, growth, and truth.