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I got back from a retreat in Tuscany in the early hours of Tuesday morning this week. A busy and hectic few days followed, and I found my mind getting busy with everything there was to do.
Yesterday morning, as I set the intention to return to a mind that slows down on purpose, I was reminded of three particular benefits. If you’re new here, welcome to a topic I write about often, and a practice I am still trying to master: slowing down. When I say slowing down, I mean the mind, not necessarily physically. It’s getting my mind to a place like a snow globe when the snow has settled after being shaken vigorously. Here is what I noticed yesterday as I did this:
I found myself saying no to things more. Things that, with a busy mind, seem urgent and important. When my mind is like a shaken snow globe, it’s difficult to see clearly what’s really important right now. With a mind where the snow has settled, that clarity results in making choices that are aligned with my vision, and what I want. It also removes the things I’m stressing about for no reason, purely because my nervous system is used to that level of stress. 2. Less thinking, more feeling With a busy mind, I can analyse everything and still come to no decision. As I prepare for my book launch, a lot of decisions are being made. As I calmed my mind, I was able to settle deeper into the wisdom that is within my body. Intuition, wisdom, guidance, whatever you want to call it, it’s a softer, gentler place that seems to know what the right decision is for now. It just flows, without much thinking. It also allows me to process emotions, rather than them getting stuck and stored in my body. 3. Listen and see things others don’t As I slow down, in conversations and in my thinking, I’m able to go deeper. I become more aware of opportunities, and of solutions and problems people have that I can help with. I notice the eyes go straight to the floor as I ask a question. For the leaders amongst us, at home, in business, in life: when we’re able to be less in our heads and more present, we see and feel things others don’t, as they get caught up in their own stories. We’re able to sense an energy that feels a little off when someone’s asking to collaborate on something. Bottom Line: I know it’s easy to read this in a newsletter, and much harder to practise in real life. But this practice allows us to maintain peace internally, whilst creating the outcomes we dream of externally. When the world is speeding up with noise, give yourself permission to slow down, and retreat to a place within yourself where everything you are searching for is already available. Practically, this may look like mindfulness in the morning, or taking five minutes to breathe before the next meeting. Reflection: Where in your life right now are you moving fast because it feels urgent, rather than because it’s actually important? What might become clearer if you gave your mind five minutes to settle before your next big decision? Jaineel P.S. 🎙️ Listen to my recent podcast episode with Nitesh Agarwal, where we discussed how to slow down to speed up. Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and other usual podcast channels. 📖 My debut book, Lead From Within: 9 Shifts to Unlock Your True Self and Step Into Authentic Leadership, is launching early November. Download the introduction and chapter one for free when you join the waitlist here. 🧘 Want to start your day as the conscious creator rather than the reactor? Download my free 20-minute guided visualisation to calibrate your energy each morning. 🧭 Take the Lead From Within Quiz today to find your alignment assessment, and see where you’re doing well and what may need work, with specific tips to support you. 📅 Considering coaching, a workshop or speaker for your next event? Let’s connect. Book a call here. Enjoyed this newsletter? Send it to a friend or colleague. Sign up here for more. |
