Slowing Down As An Access to Real Productivity, Innovation, and Accomplishment
Have you noticed the current culture of work is one of busyness? Everyone seems to be very, very busy. We could even say, “I’m too busy” is the epidemic of the current era we live in. In the Forcefield of Business, we even tend to wear “being busy” like a badge of honor – not only is it normal and expected to be extremely busy, it is seen as a sign of importance or success.
The advent of technology and the internet held promises of working smarter, not harder, and making us more productive and able to take back more of our life. However, haven't you noticed that instead everyone has just gotten busier? Now we’re responding to emails at 10pm while we’re in bed!
Our current culture of work makes it almost impossible to create opportunities (time) to daydream, study, wonder, plan, or think. In fact, it seems counterintuitive to make time for those things when we are already so busy!
I have found that unless I diligently practice slowing down (what the Buddhists call “the sacred act of pausing”) I am working and living as a “I-must-get-everything-done-but-I-don’t-have-enough-time” machine.
While it’s counterintuitive, we propose that the more you slow down, the more you’ll be able to speed up. Or said another way, as the Navy SEALS train, “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”
Three Principles for Slowing Down
Here are three principles we follow to slow down and access real productivity, innovation, and accomplishment with our work:
Unless I practice pausing, i.e. slowing down to intentionally connect with my “why,” my essential purpose, I won’t be connected with my essential purpose. My essential purpose will exist for me as a concept or something in my memory vs. that which is powerfully informing my thinking, planning, and acting.
As difficult as it has been for me, it has been immeasurably impactful to intentionally put time in my schedule to wonder, speculate, and daydream.
Slow down to pause and ask this question, “What is my intention for what I / we are about to do?” Then, create the answer to the question thoughtfully. This is an absolute game changer.
I make a point each day to slow down and really connect with why (the big Why) I’m doing what I’m doing. Rather than sitting down at my desk and checking off tasks for my day, I stop and connect with my Calling and the Ultimate Intent of my business.
Even if you keep your “why” written on the wall of your office and read it off each morning, consider you might not actually be slowing down enough to truly connect with it and feel moved and inspired by your purpose.
What might it be like to work from a place of true connection to your soul's purpose? This is an inquiry worth having.