“Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you”

I recently saw this quote and smiled. I have been on a path of slowing down for the last few months and have directly experienced the truth of this statement. Even though I continue to experience the miracles of this in my own life, I still find it one of the most difficult things to do.

I think for many of us, slowing down is so difficult because it implies being perceived as lazy, unmotivated and lacking ambition. Even more challenging is just the simple act of doing less. When we are busy, we don’t have time to think and reflect. Slowing down requires us to reconnect and create space for things to happen. That space can be scary.

As I considered what to write about this month, this seemed particularly timely given that August is an interesting time of year. On the one hand, it is very much a time for slowing down. The “lazy hazy days of summer” are the time when businesses slow down, families take vacations and the city feels quieter as everyone heads up North for the cottage.

At the same time, we find ourselves half way through the year and thinking about the remaining months ahead. Many of us start to stress about whether we have time to accomplish all that we set out to do before another year ends. And so we try to enjoy the summer yet battle the guilt of feeling like we should be doing more to get ahead.

Whether you are at the cottage reading this or just enjoying summer days with friends and family, I want you to see how you can use the slow energy of August to your advantage. The essence of the above quote is that we often end up getting the very things we want when we let go of the need to have them, particularly the need to have them quickly.

This is very similar to the concept of surrender. It is not about giving up on our goals, but letting go of the grasping, needy energy that often keeps our dreams at a distance. We all know this is true. Perhaps you’ve experienced it yourself or heard stories from others. The ones where you lose weight when you stop trying, or you find love when you stop looking, you find a job opportunity when you weren’t really looking, or the perfect shoes when you don’t really need them. The examples are endless.

So as you enjoy the rest of this summer, keep this quote in mind. By releasing any guilt or stress and anxiety that you may feel around your goals, you are able to create the space for things to come to you – in the form of ideas, inspiration and opportunities. It can be amazing the changes that take place when we are in a state of peace and acceptance.

Enjoy the next 4 weeks. Soak up the sun and the heat and be present to the stillness. Use this time to get clear on what you want to accomplish before the end of the year, and write out your plan and action steps. Brainstorm all of the things you can do to move you in the direction of your goals. Taking the time to reflect, you will find inspiration and new ideas which can go a lot further than simply doing for the sake of doing. So grab a book and a refreshing summer drink and go soak up the sun! Fall will be here before you know it.

To your health and happiness,

Victoria

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Tagged as: Inspiration, Wellbeing