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Have you ever felt like things are moving too fast?? In this day and age, so many distractions can pull our attention and demand our time, but what does it look like for us to slow down and be intentional? What does it mean to notice our days?

I recently had the privilege of going on an Alaskan Cruise with The Urban Alternative Ministry, and y’all, I needed that time to slow down! Life has been quite a bit hectic, and having time to be with my family and to be still was a treat. When we don’t take the time to slow down ourselves, life has a way of forcing us to slow down. I can tell you from experience, that is not a slowdown you want to encounter.

If my encouragement to you to slow down is resonating, do whatever you have to do to ruthlessly eliminate the unnecessary busyness in your life. Don’t say to yourself later, “I knew I should have slowed down when Chrystal told me to!”. If you are feeling a twinge in your heart to make a “right-now” change, then the time to make that change is RIGHT NOW!

Of course, we have to determine what fast and slow mean to us personally. We are all wired differently, and we naturally tend to our own unique pace. You may know that I naturally tend to work at a fast pace, and I’m a pretty good multitasker (basically task-switching quickly), but even so, I’m not immune to making mistakes when moving at high speed. Recently during our home renovations, I moved too fast and gave the wrong paint color to the general contractor hired to manage repairs in our home. My entire living room and kitchen got painted the wrong color because I accidentally sent the contractor an old paint sample I had saved in my phone instead of the more current correct one. 

Yes… they painted my entire living room and kitchen THE WRONG COLOR. All because I moved more quickly in my communication than I should have.

Can I encourage you here? It’s worth your time to intentionally slow down and take in the scenery, double-check your decisions, and evaluate your thought processes. When you do slow down, you’ll realize that the scenery isn’t all that bad! When you move slower, and with intentionality, you get to truly notice your life, live with intention, and enjoy your surroundings. 

And don’t let the idea of slowing down stress you out! How you slow down simply has to work for you. It doesn’t have to be an extended vacation or be ridiculously expensive. It can be as simple as finding the time to take a nap, read a book, get outside for some fresh air, or pause to listen to your heartbeat (hint: sit in your car before you go inside of the house). Slowing down can be done successfully. You just have to find rhythms that work for you and that you will commit yourself to doing regularly. 

So, here’s to moving fast when needed and at a pace that is sustainable, but also, here’s to choosing to slow down and pay attention to the scenery more often than we usually do!

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Slow down and be present
  • Slow down and pay attention
  • Slow down and take in the scenery

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Other Stuff to Check Out

 

Let’s Talk!

  1. Where in life are you moving too fast? 
  2. What are some ways you can slow down and take in the scenery?
  3. What is something beautiful in your life that you haven’t paid attention to recently?

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How to Listen to The Podcast

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you work out, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

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You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!