On the road to slowing down and experiencing more joyful moments, there will be many challenges along the way. Some of these may be unconscious patterns that are holding you back, but shining a light on them helps you in a myriad of ways.
Make a List
Once you slow down in your life, you will have free time to do things that bring you pleasure. Right now, it may seem impossible to imagine having time to do things on your list. For example, if you listen to music but feel that you just don’t have the mental space to listen, set aside a small period of time so you can enjoy music, even for ten minutes each night.
If you enjoy listening to podcasts but don’t have time to spare, figure out ways to listen while you are fixing dinner. You can research the podcasts you enjoy so they are ready to go or ask people for recommendations. You can plan ahead so that when it’s actually time to listen, you are ready to go. If you spend an hour finding something you are interested in listening to, you will never make this a part of your routine.
Our Beliefs
Do you feel that you have to be productive all the time and feel guilty if you rest?
You will never have all your errands and phone calls complete. You may be waiting a long time before you can rest. This also leads to exhaustion and burnout. Think about the example you are setting for the people around you. Believing that rest is a productive use of your time wlll change your life..
Is rest something that you believe only happens during sleep? Maybe you were raised to believe that resting was being lazy. If so, think about where you heard these messages.
Is emotional, spiritual, and social rest important to you? We need to rejuvenate ourselves by nurturing our spiritual life through prayer or meditation or appreciating nature. We need time to see our friends and enjoy our hobbies. We need time to stop listening to the news which can lead to overwhelm and turn off our phones sometimes.
There are so many unconscious beliefs that may bubble up as you claim more time for yourself. The best things in life-hanging out with people, building friendships, and self-care take time but that means we either change or reduce other areas of our life.
Living by Default
I try to take a different route to work and eat something different at lunch sometimes. These all take me extra time, but I think the benefits are worth it. This will force you to pay attention and notice, instead of living on autopilot.
You will discover new parts to yourself by getting lost or trying a new cuisine. It’s these small changes that have the greatest impact.
If you intentionally make choices that align with the vision you have for your life, you will make progress. There are challenges that need to be worked through, but they don’t have to block you from living the life where you thrive.
