Permission to go slow
Cultivating stillness in a crazy world
Today is the one year anniversary of The Art of You. Thanks to everyone who took time to read it. Below is a short excerpt from the book, which is currently 33% off on Amazon for a limited time. Check it out.
While living in New York City, working for advertising agencies, I was always in a hurry. Deadlines were tight. Each week I had new clients to meet, new projects to finish. I drank coffee all day (switching to alcohol in the evening to take the edge off). This fast-paced lifestyle took a toll on my mental health and nervous system.
Our society is often addicted to urgency. We work fast, eat fast, and chase after instant gratification. There is pressure to push harder, compete with others, and keep up with social expectations. It sometimes feels like if we do not hurry we will miss out on something important. This constant state of urgency causes unnecessary stress and anxiety.
To do or make anything of value takes time. Deadlines can be helpful to keep us focused, but too much urgency leads to mindless (rather than mindful) activity. The calmer you are, the clearer you think. We work best when our actions are rooted in presence.
After leaving New York City to live in the scenic landscape of Topanga, California, I learned the importance of slowing down. I spent afternoons laying on the beach and wandering the hiking trails with my dogs. I began reading and writing poetry again (something I had neglected as I became preoccupied with chasing career success). In this newfound stillness I tapped into a deeper well of inspiration.
Creativity requires periods of gestation – time and space to allow your ideas to develop at a natural pace. You can’t force a garden to grow faster. And you can’t force an idea that isn’t ready to be born.
There is a difference between laziness and productive inactivity. Laziness means avoiding or resisting what you want to create, perhaps for fear of failure or not knowing where to start. Productive inactivity means intentionally taking a break to rest and restore your energy.
Creativity, like nature, moves in cycles. There’s a time to plant seeds and a time to harvest the crops. Progress is not always linear. Sometimes you need to step away and clear your mind so you can return with renewed purpose.
The natural world is never in a hurry. It ebbs and flows with the changing seasons. Flowers are not in a constant state of growth. There’s a time to bloom and a time to wither. And in the dark and quiet soil new life begins to grow.
You are part of nature. Sometimes you will be productive. Sometimes you will need time to slow down or stop altogether. Sometimes an old version of you will die so a new version can be born. Pay attention to the changing seasons of your life. Don’t force a harvest when it’s time to plant seeds.
In a world that is increasingly loud and fast, cultivate a slow and quiet presence inside yourself.
2025 retreats
I will be co-facilitating three in-person retreats this year. I would love to see you there!
Artist Quarantine: a retreat for visual artists, April 7-13, Menorca. Learn more.
Bring Your Purpose to the Public: a retreat for creative changemakers (with Bunny Michael), Omega, NY Jun 29 – Jul 4. Learn more.
Plant Medicine & Creativity: an ayahuasca retreat in collaboration with Plant Medicine People, Costa Rica, November 1-9. Learn more.
What a wonderful post. Appreciate the reminder to slow things down. Thanks for sharing
This is a beautiful reminder that we are reflections of nature! We do have an ebb and flow! At the root of our individual dances, lays a fundamental truth that life is all about CYCLES! When we master this truth, we master the ability to use wisdom to ride the cycles and be grateful for every season! Knowing that we are not totally defined by them but we are built by them!