Life Talk: Why Do We Only Slow Down During The Holidays?
If slowing down helps us ground ourselves, gain epiphanies, and bring light to what really matters, why do we only stay committed to it during the Holiday season?
This year I decided to start decorating my home for Christmas in early November. My tradition since we purchased our home 15 years ago was to decorate the day after Thanksgiving. But, I’m always willing to break traditions and try something new.
Needless to say I am glad I went with early Christmas this year. It immediately set the mood for joy, love, gratitude and cozy nights with those I love most. It set the stage for us to forget the hustle bustle we make our routine during most of the year, and motivated us to slow down so much.
What I Observed….
My observation during this slow down is that it took stress and worries away. My heart became more centered, and my awareness for the blessings surrounding me took precedence. What I THOUGHT I lacked in my life evaporated from my heart and mind. I only know and cherish what I DO have.
Friends, as silly as it may seem that some Christmas decorations shifted me and my family into a life slow down, it’s true. It changed the ambiance of our home because we aligned with the socialized spirit of the Holiday season —— family time, gratitude, finding joy in the little moments we take for granted during the year, being present, and amplified faith.
Why do we do this…
So, of course it made me wonder and question, why don’t we make the intention all year long to slow down? Instead, we attach to the socialization that a life lived to the fullest happens only to those who work hard, work intensely, and stay loyal to productivity. In reality what we are doing with this misaligned concept is detaching our true selves to valuable life elements that will help us heal, evolve, grow towards real purpose —— OUR individual purpose, and authentic happiness.
Going Against The Grain
I say we all go against what we have been programmed to believe produces a full life. I say we go into the New Year, and the rest of our years with a focus and intention on slowing down continuously through the year. Take weekly time to disconnect from meaningless and unfruitful distractions such as social media, work meetings, TV, work travel, errands, etc.
Is It Really Worth Your Time?
During these last few weeks, a term what has kept playing over and over again in my head when choosing what to do with my time is “ROI” - Return On Investment. Yes, typically “ROI” is a term used in the marketing and sales worlds, but it’s also so valuable when applied to life decisions and time management. It has helped me to consciously select actions in my daily life that will make the most impact in my roles as a mother, a wife, a professional, and a daughter. It has helped me stay on track with a present mindset, abundance, and truly life changing results both on a soul level and worldly level.
Final Thoughts
While slowing down your life might not seem like a profound action, it very much is. It’s simple, but has the power to clear your spirit, heart, and mind from all the junk that doesn’t serve you. It’s a fundamental detox process we need if we really want to achieve optimal personal growth. Life is fully lived when you have made it a top priority to self develop more each day, month, year that goes by.
When we arrive here, it’s not to stay stagnant. It’s to always be learning, growing, mastering, healing. Slow down friends - it’s not a race. If you race by, ironically you’ll lose the entire journey.