In today’s material world, our time is finite and precious – material values, speed, and rewards are glorified, and, above all else, slowing down is often viewed negatively and ignored. It is how we have reached the jet age, the internet, and the digital world, where speed is crucial. All this should give us better quality time to do other things. The paradox, however, is that it has left us with less time.

The necessity of a fast-paced life has led to increased competition, greed, jealousy, and a fear of insecurity, among other consequences. The rule we follow is that time is money. Essentially, we are always in a hurry, and speed is required in everything we do, whether eating, praying, or fulfilling earthly desires.

Where is this leading us? Today, young people over the age of 30 are getting diseases that are related to stress, like hypertension, cardiac arrests, anxiety, depression, etc. When life becomes too fast, complex, or cluttered, we must stop, whether under compulsion or through common sense, and ask, Is this worth it? What do we want from life, and what is our purpose here? The answer lies in our ability to connect with every aspect of our lives – physical, mental, and spiritual.

When we are young, we are mainly connected to everything possible outside. We have high expectations and ambitions, driven by the complex thought processes of our minds, which are shaped by the presence of the ego in all of us. Only then do we reach somewhere in the rat race of our chaotic artificial world. Even after that, won’t you agree? Even then, we remain an unfulfilled rat. Gradually, realisation starts creeping in, and we begin a slow journey of gaining awareness of the divine presence, moving away from the whining of ‘me and mine’ into the flow of nature, where unity exists.

A fast-moving life causes a disorganised mind. Overstimulated, the mind fights to be clear; thoughts become scattered. For inner peace and clarity, slowing down allows the sediment of mental chatter to settle, providing us with time to reflect and comprehend rightly.

Slowing down helps us deepen our relationships, work, and connection to the self. In the quiet, we hear what is usually drowned out by the noise of busyness. We refer to this as connecting with our inner Self, giving us time to self-reflect introspectively. No doubt, technology or digitisation provides speed in our functioning, but our mind is also attuned to function as closely as possible to nature. We must learn to relax, be observant in the present moment, breathe slowly, meditate, and calm ourselves away from the daily stress and anxieties.

Gandhiji once said there is more to life than increasing its speed. Slow your speech, thoughts, and the mad speed at which you move daily, and see the difference.

Further, spend more time listening rather than being in a hurry to interrupt and force others to accept your point of view. Enjoy the beauty of nature, including the sky, stars, mountains, and landscapes. Relax in a busy street café or a bustling mall and see how everyone is in a hurry. Read this article slowly, and you will discover that you absorb more than you would otherwise.

Now, many of us may be seeking a change. In most countries, resorts have opened with various physical environments to epitomise a slow, fulfilling holiday, featuring spas and spiritual centres. There, they offer either a peaceful farm or the seaside, or they are situated in the hills amidst beautiful natural surroundings, taking you away from the honking and chaos of the cities.

The answer, of course, is the right balance. There is no denying that there are many moments where speed is required. We also must understand that to live a better life, our journey should not necessarily be controlled within a time frame or by achieving strict goals. Life should always be treated as a journey, flowing with a natural presence, rather than focusing on goals, as these have limitations and are often driven by ego. It should be more about achieving a better quality of life, where both body and mind are in control, where the clock does not govern you, and you have enough time for yourself, your family, and your relationships.

NAMASTE