Tips on how to slow down even if the world around you is moving fast

We get caught up, all the time. 

When people around us push for things to move, we feel stressed by the push even if we are on track to hit whatever targets are set for us, so how do we slow down in these kinds of situations?

When we get caught in our loved one's dramas, and we take it all personally, we think it is about us, when it has nothing to do with us. We play into the drama and we hit back without pausing, only to regret it later.

When we get accosted by some salesperson who triggers some pain or panic points in us who tell us to hurry or else we will lose out. We forget that we can't lose what we have not committed to, the loss is only a potential loss. This is where we see the sales frenzy all over the world because people get caught up and forget they have the power to say no. 

Here are some tips to slow it all down:

1. Our breath! I've written about it many times, so I'm going to remind everyone again about this under-rated so vital tool we all have that can serve us so well in every single aspect of our lives. 
   • When we get confused with too many things running through our mind, just pause, and take a deep breath.
   • Let all the thoughts just slide off you. Do this several times if you're a beginner.
   • You will find that the confusion and heaviness in your heart will disappear when you are calm.
   • Sometimes your inability to think clearly is simply the lack of oxygen in your brain!
2. When you are triggered emotionally by your partner, children, boss, colleagues, friends, hold back and do not react to everything that is said or not. If you react to everything, it just shows how little power you actually have to call your own and that your emotional maturity is that of a toddler. It means everyone else owns you! What you can do:
   
   • Listen intently to what they are saying
   • Keep your focus on your breath
   • Let the triggered feelings pass as you breathe
   • Do not respond and simply say: I hear you, give me some time to respond to what you have just said. Or if is not possible to say this to them, make a mental note to respond to them at a later time, and simply tell them you have heard them. (This way if things had the potential to get out of hand, you have managed to diffuse it, to address it when everyone is calm)
   • Write down your emotions/thoughts somewhere on a piece of paper, or on your phone (when you get a moment later)
3. When you get caught up and feel like a victim, feeling like other people are doing things to you and you do not have a choice. We all have the choice to let situations pull us down or not. We have the choice to remain calm no matter what happens. Go back to your breathing. Do not be tempted to strike back, just slow down....
4. If you have learned how to meditate you understand that meditation slows things down for you emotionally and mentally, go back into your meditation either in a quiet corner or do a slow down walking meditation all in the midst of the busy world around you. Remember, you remain in the eye of the storm where it is absolutely still. 

You may realise by now that usually things escalate and move out of control when we allow our emotions to run the show. The slowing down process must take place in your own mind so that your emotions are kept on an even keel. 

Emotions are energy in motion, and if we feed it with chaotic energies, this is what will happen -- chaos will snowball and before you know it, things are out of your control and you do not even remember anymore what caused it in the first place. Because this giant snowball of emotional energies has completely taken over your life.

How you feel about situations and yourself can either slow things down or speed things up, the choice is truly in your breath.

© 2020 Shamala Tan

Let me know how I can assist you if you have any questions [email protected]

Shamala Tan is an author, spiritual entrepreneur and healer. Her work focuses on transforming the lives of others on the spiritual, emotional, mental and earthly level.

One of her success stories as an author is to being featured alongside New York’s bestsellers Sonia Choquette, Robert Allen, Arielle Ford, Marci Shimoff as well as Christine Kloser in the book Pebbles In The Pond.

Shamala’s clients include small business owners, holistic practitioners as well as those seeking to find more significant meaning and value in life. Shamala offers laser coaching to her clients on a one-to-one basis or in a group environment, offline as well as online.