Slow Down
to Wake Up
The Antidote to Hustle
The Default Hustle
Collective Pressure
Moving at the breakneck speed of technology. Letting external deadlines dictate internal tempo, leading to reactive thinking.
Result: Strategic Blindness.
Intentional Deceleration
Focused Thinking
Carving out blocks of time for relaxed but deep reflection. Waking up to lessons from the body and the nuance of the world.
Result: Authentic Clarity.
Resisting the Breakneck Speed
Technology is accelerating at breakneck speed, but that does not mean we must be influenced by its collective pressure or move at a similar pace. While there are times to “hustle” to meet tight deadlines, those moments must be balanced by intentional deceleration. If our default setting is hustle, we risk losing our connection to the lessons that only stillness can reveal.
Waking Up to the Body
Slowing down is not merely a professional strategy; it is a human requirement. It allows us to wake up to the lessons our bodies have to teach us, to notice the small things that are often overlooked in the rush, and to feel into our gratitude. By carving out blocks of time for focused but relaxed thinking, we shift from being reactive participants in a system to conscious owners of our lives.
The Root of Presence
Coined following a retreat in 2013 with Thich Nhat Hanh, “Slow down to wake up” serves as a reminder that the path to the future is prepared in the present. Whether reflecting on lessons from a recent project or preparing for what lies ahead, the act of slowing down is the “wake-up call” that brings our best, most creative selves to the surface.
Get more reframes on living an examined life.