Within a few weeks, over 30,000 people had read a ‘slow living quote’ I wrote and published on pinterest titled ‘Stop Rushing’. While I certainly did not expect that number of people to see it, it does not surprise me that so many of us are hungry for deep joy and rest. I certainly am.
The Deep Quote that Improves Relationships and Rest: Slow Down and Stop Rushing
Four years ago, we endured a worldwide pandemic. Within months of the pandemic exploding across the world, the nature of our relationships changed and we developed a new way of seeing the world. The remnants of the pandemic created a brewing hunger in our soul for that which is real: We desire a fullness of presence, authenticity and joy in friendship, life, love, work, home and family.
In the rush and bustle of life, many of us have forgotten how to feel deeply. We exchange much of our time for taps on an iPhone screen, to-do lists, and work obligations. And yet, the remnant of hope in our soul desires what is real, authentic and deeply human. We desire better relationships, deeper joy, a beautiful home and a contented family. Here’s a way forward: Seek God and keep His commandments. Stop worrying about tomorrow. Listen to Him now. Focus on this moment. Do the next right thing. Stay on the path you are called. Stop rushing, slow down and experience joy that is immediate and deep.
Rushing robs us of irreplaceable moments. When we relax, we open our perspective, expand our capacity for gratitude and experience joy that is time-altering.
In the rush of life, we allow moments that could otherwise be simple to be full of worry or stress. High stress levels (cortisol) is taking a toll on us. High stress levels are closely related with some chronic diseases. There’s also an interplay between stress and cancer. Often, in the moments we are most stressed, we are rushed or pressured in some way. How much more, then, should we cull the rushed moments from our life.
Here are some ways I’m seeking to stop rushing and slow down:
Open your ears to hear and eyes to see (in quiet).
In the lapse of mundane and routines, my mind pauses and pushes, searching for and somehow denying what I need to regain strength in body and mind: Seeking God in silence and solitude. Yet why do I resist it again? Stillness and being in His Word is essential to hear God’s voice.
‘Do not worry about tomorrow’: This command has led me into God’s presence. My life is a vapour. Who dictates what is to happen to us tomorrow – good or bad? I’m reminded to focus on now.
Be quiet and let him speak to you in the silence.
Draw from wells of living water.
Wait… taste and see that the Lord is God.
In silence, open your heart to Him.
In waiting, find purpose and contentment in Him.
The joy of the Lord is your strength, here and now.
The Lord is merciful and faithful, here and now.
Always, in Him, through Him and because of Him.
Simplify your home
Too much physical clutter = mental clutter. Explore the effect that a clean space has on your mind. Pull back the curtains, let in sunshine, make your bed, simplify your surroundings and donate to a local second hand shop.
I heard a story about a family in Japan that kept empty storage boxes in their shed for ‘space to breathe’ and just in case.
It made me think, do we have space in our lives to breathe and refresh, physical and spiritual? Do we have time set aside for nothing? Do we have space in our home for imagination?
Perhaps what we need most is one hour of nothing planned, nothing to attend, nothing to do… just space to breathe and wonder.
And listen to your soul exhale and thank you in return!
Stoke your imagination.
Walk on the grass of God’s imagination
What a thing it is to walk on the grass of God’s imagination….all the way to the lightless borderlands of time and space, which we come to discover in some future age are but the beginnings or endings of a single word spoken from the mouth of God. Some nights, while I traipse down the hill, I imagine that word isn’t a word at all, but a burst of laughter.
Andrew Peterson
Life isn’t a performance
Relax
I think too often I treat life as if I were playing a part in a play: and if I fail, then I fail those around me and I fail myself.
We are meant to have hiccups in life,
To grow
To nourish the roots of our lives
To deepen the relationships around us
To open His word, pray and grow in relationship with God.
Most of life is mundane, and if we are always rushing, what does that say about our decisions? Does rushing indicate a deeper problem, a lack of preparation or a desire to ‘do and be everything to all people’?
Lately, while cooking meals, responding to emails, running errands, catching up with friends or popping to the shops, I have felt the need to resist a fast pace and slow down. Rushing prevents deep enjoyment of life.
Most of life is mundane, and if we are always rushing, what does that say about our decisions? Does rushing indicate a deeper problem, a lack of preparation or a desire to ‘do and be everything to all people’?
It is fascinating witnessing a growing number of people are choosing to slow down and embrace a slower life. This is a fundamental change in how we approach our daily lives, prioritizing quality over quantity and thoughtfulness over multitasking.
I hope this inspires you to slow down and stop rushing! How do you create a posture of stillness in your life?
You may also enjoy other deep quotes and posts:
3 Simple Growth Mindset Journalling Prompts
I really like to set my gaze on the intelligent design in nature … the handsomely furrowed texture of bark on the sturdy, weathered trunk of the black ash tree in my backyard … the intricate veining in a leaf fluttering on a branch …the uniformity of form and order of petals on a flower … how moisture-laden clouds release bazillions of waterdrops of different sizes when it rains … the uniquely elegant detailing in the delicate structure of crystal formation found anew in each diaphanous snowflake … and the list goes on and on!
All these evoke a sense of awe and wonder in me that blesses me with grateful feelings and a peace of mind “that passes all understanding”…
What magnificent words. I felt touched reading them. I completely agree; God’s creation instills such wonder and peace.