Slow Down
One of the best things I decided on at the end of 2022 and have brought into 2023 with me is to simply slow down.
Not everything has to be or feel so rushed, including figuring out your personal style. Take it from someone who tried to create hers in a rush for a very long time and always ended up feeling unsatisfied with the results. Giving yourself the time to discover and acquire things you really love is so much more fulfilling.
It can definitely be hard to slow down when everything around us feels like it is speeding up, and fashion is an area where things are constantly changing, and looking outdated seems frowned upon.
But I was listening to a podcast the other day and Davidji was saying that it is only our perspective/view of the world that is so sped up and feels like it's only trying to go faster, life's reality is not speeding up. He further explained that if you think of anything in nature, all of the growth that occurs is at their own pace. The trees grow on their own schedule, and the flowers bloom when they are ready and there is definitely no rush, or competition. The tide goes in and out, the sign rises and sets, and we never expect them to be different than they are.
I LOVED THIS!!
And it is why I have decided to practise consciously slowing down, stepping out of a view that tells me I need to keep up or I am a failure, and I am inviting you to do the same.
This year I am consciously creating my life by actively reflecting on what's important to me and focusing on being more aligned with those things.
I am in no rush to get to the final destination.
I am focused on enjoying all of the life that comes up along the way to it.
This includes my personal style.
My very own personal style is not where I want it to be yet, but I still love where I am on the path to getting there, and my intention is to let myself enjoy figuring it out, instead of trying to just get it over with. You don't have to rush through this, personal style will always be there for you and it doesn't mind if you take your time figuring it out for yourself.
It goes beyond my closet too. I noticed when I slowed down my life just became less stressful.
If you're feeling pressure to speed up, keep up, or be doing better than you were this time last year here are some of the things that have helped me slow down and not feel bad about it, things that honestly just helped me feel better and in many cases made parts of my life and style better.
1. Being mindful / present
Letting myself take the time to actually unravel what were my thoughts and feelings vs. what other people expected, wanted, thought, or felt, was an amazing way to slow down and actually find my own pace.
There have been many times where I would just rush through something to get it done, without even considering why I was doing it or how I felt about it. Taking the time to slow down and notice these things has made the actions I take feel much more impactful and fulfilling.
2. Doing less
I stopped trying to accomplish a million different things in a bunch of different areas of my life, AND started trying to sit in my uncomfortable boredom and see what came up for me.
3. Appreciating more
I started acknowledging what I am really grateful for and reflecting on my day every night always feels like it is somehow slowing my day down as I watch over it in my head to pick out all the special moments I experienced that when I didn't acknowledge made the days feel like the were blending and going by too quickly.
I write 3 or more things in a journal by my bed that were wonderful, made me feel good, or that I was just really grateful for. Whether that was a really good soup I made, a new outfit combination I loved, reading a book I like, or hanging out with my cat.
I also made a list of simple things that are really important to me that I notice I get to experience a lot of. I read this list almost every day and every day that I notice I got to experience something or multiple things on the list I feel amazing.
My important things list:
Being outside / fresh air
Being around pets or animals
Being with family / friends
Reading / Writing
Eating quality home cooked meals
Trying new things
Music
A well loved home
4. Setting boundaries especially with time
THIS ONE!!! Oh my god...
I stopped rushing to be on top of every notification that comes through my phone. And it is life changing.
If I am in the middle of doing something like driving, eating, or I'm spending time with my family or friends, I have stopped rushing to pick up my phone to get back to people.
I know I will get back to them, and I love how I respond to people when I'm not upset that I am interrupting something else to do so. I still respond in a reasonable amount of time, and it's made my days feel so much less hectic.
PLUS, I realized that no one actually expects me to respond immediately, everyone has stuff going on.
5. Doing things slower
Simply just doing things more slowly has really helped too. Taking my time getting ready in the morning, taking my time eating, not speeding when I drive, mindfully shopping and so on.
I don't mean I'm taking extra hours to do any of these things, I'm just not frantically rushing through them to get them out of the way and done with. Slowing down to be in the moment and enjoy all of these things has helped me feel so much more in control of the pace of my life, and less like I am at the whim of how quickly the world feels like it's moving.
Overall all of these things have one thing in common, and it's that I have been taking more time to just really be with myself and enjoy more of my life, and it feels so much better.
I invite you to slow down with me and if you have any tips on how you already have been doing this as well definitely let me know!
Love & Trust Yourself