Cultivating Gratitude

The Right Way to Practice Slow Living

When I set out to create Spells of Wylde one of the things I promised myself was to create a comfortable space in which to share ideas. What I wanted to steer clear from was a pushy narrative about one particular method of slow living, intentional living, dietary, ethical, spiritual, physical, and social practices.

Years ago, I became somewhat obsessed with nutrition. I scoured the internet for documentaries, essays, and the opinions of nutritionists, doctors, dietitians, holistic practitioners, gurus, and otherwise self-proclaimed health nuts for their opinions on what I should and should not eat. Needless to say, I was extremely overwhelmed and conflicted. One week I would follow the advice based on a particular study and the next I would be convinced otherwise by other sources or a well-meaning friend. And then I would call my folks and they would say, “But are you getting enough protein? Red meat is good for you!”, and yet again my certainty in my extensive studies would falter.

Beyond nutrition, I was also motivated by my desire to eat ethically. Although to an extent I was able to make my own conclusions about what foods were right for me, I was continually plagued with a vagueness that left me hankering to learn more. I became flustered with the back and forth on the do’s and don’ts, until, lo and behold, I had a bright moment. It was OK. It was ok not to be sure, and it was ok to continue to want to learn. It was ok that I didn’t have The Right Answer because truly there really isn’t one. It was ok to do the best I can and to stick by my well-informed opinion. And my well-informed opinion was not necessarily what was right for everyone else. And guess what? That’s ok too. You do you.

Designating Time to Slow or Flow

I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the case for most things in life, including a personal discord between enjoying stillness (the building blocks of a slow living practice) and being productive. While slow living is a lifestyle choice I stand by and practice, without a doubt it is practice and not something that comes naturally all the time. In recent weeks I’ve noticed myself feeling guilty when taking time to settle down and read something for pleasure or stopping my work to enjoy a cup of tea on my porch. A part of my brain would chime in, “But do you really have time to sip your tea and listen to the birds right now? What about all the things on your list?” Rather than finding a comfortable balance between enjoying my pastimes and productivity, I experienced days in which I attempted to savor a slow day while guilt-ridden about not working towards my goals, or obsessively (and miserably) tackling my endless to-do list without rest and without food or water.

It’s taken a while for me to realize that it’s not taking the afternoon off to enjoy life nor working persistently that’s the problem. It’s doing either one of these things while simultaneously feeling guilty about not doing the other. When I am not savoring the stillness I long for, and I am also not fully committed to reaching my goals when I’m working, I’m missing the point.

I am an advocate for slow living, not languid living. Part of the beauty of life is the sheer possibilities and the excitement of taking action, whether that be honing a craft, studying a subject of interest, or building a business. Having dreams, setting goals and challenges, and accomplishing those things is the greatest joie de vivre! It is just as important to me that I am taking action towards my goals as it is for me to enjoy the still moments.

The Many Ways to Enjoy Slow Living

So where do we find the balance between stillness and productivity? For me, this can only be found when setting boundaries which can be a bit tricky especially if you work from home like me. When I am working or studying I strive to immerse myself completely and get into a flow state. And when I am slowing down, I make my very best effort to savor that time without interruption from my phone, emails, or work. Similar to meditating, there is no slow living while allowing the monkey mind to run rampant. It’s certainly easier said than done, especially for those of us who have become accustomed to so much stimulation and to so much multitasking in our day-to-day. Again, it’s a practice.

It’s also important to note that everyone’s lives, circumstances, “free” time, responsibilities, and personalities are different. There is no one way to practice slow living, just as there is no one way to be productive. Your way is as unique as you are. Take some time to learn what works for you. Remember, YOU do YOU! I hope to share some of my own experience in struggling with a balance, too, and to share some tips I’ve found useful soon. Hope you have a wonderful day and that your week is filled with magic!