We have a natural habit of overscheduling our lives. We are the busiest generation with plans for planning! The race is never-ending and in a blur the world speeds on by. Somewhere along the way, we couldn’t find the brake pedal and relaxed into this fast pace. We forgot how to slow down and the meaning of the world around us, our purpose in life, and moments of reflection were lost amongst the go faster stripes.
The need to pause, reflect and appreciate what is around us is vital to slow down our minds, our heartrate, and to give our bodies a rest. It gives us a chance to appreciate our world, our surroundings, and our intentions. How can we actively slow down and understand how to appreciate the world around us?
Slow Living
First we need to learn to slow down. When being on overdrive is our normal state of being, learning to slow down can be a difficult process. Slow living is the art of recognising that fast is not always better. It is about choosing a slower pace of life, being intentional with your time and the choices you make in life. It is about grounding yourself and appreciating our environment, our relationships and being mindful of our actions. Slow living is an incredibly beneficial way to live giving us the ability to reflect on our lives and living more meaningfully.
Step Outside
Nature is a great healer and wonderful educator. Stepping outside, away from our desks, our cars and the agendas which keep us locked firmly into our schedules, provides us with the opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the world around us. Our world is filled with intense natural wonders, many right under our feet close to home. Devoting our attention to the natural environment creates an understanding of why we need to appreciate and protect our world.
Disconnect to Reconnect
Along with our busy lives, we are consumed by an online world. How many times have you visited a site of natural wonder only to view it through a phone camera lens, taking videos and photos to filter later on? When we have the chance to view the world with our own eyes, take it. Our minds are our best companions and having the memories of the world around you so close to hand allows us to continually appreciate our world. Connect with nature by being physically and mentally present. Envelope yourself in all of the sights, sounds and smells nature has to offer. There is no better way to appreciate our world than to soak it all up.
Be Thankful and Aware
Our world is incredibly diverse. From large cities, to deep oceans, wide mountains, to quaint villages, we have much to be thankful for. Embrace the world around you and open your eyes to everything on offer. Be grateful for what we have and understanding of the challenges our world faces.
You might also like to read this blog post on Minding our Mental Health
Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash
