Finding Peace: The Art of Slowing Down and Enjoying Your Own Company
The Art of Slowing Down
Embrace the concept of taking it easy. The 'ReTREAT Yourself' blog posts offer various activities to help you relax and unwind during a retreat.
With 16 blog entries, you'll find exercises to help you slow down and enjoy your own company. Learn how to find peace and appreciate some alone time. Join our 'ReTreat Yourself' program to discover the secrets of relaxation, rejuvenation, and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
You can find the steps online for free and donations are always welcome. Practice them whenever and wherever you like. Keep an eye out for the SUN ☼ symbol in the blogs for some reflective exercises. I hope you find them enjoyable and beneficial for your overall well-being.
Reconnect with Yourself with 'ReTREAT Yourself'
If you've come across this blog about slowing down and finding peace, it's probably because you're eager to lead a more mindful life and were searching for ways to accomplish that. Am I right?
It's possible that you're facing burn-out or in the process of recovering from it. Alternatively, you might be dealing with a bore-out and feeling extremely bored. In any case, I guarantee you'll find this place enjoyable!
Find Joy in Your Own Company
If you've been demanding too much from yourself lately or if you're yearning for a sprinkle of magic in your life, 'ReTREAT Yourself' presents an opportunity to reconnect with your true essence, regardless of your motivations. Enjoy being alone and appreciate the peacefulness of a slower pace of life.
Embrace spending time alone and find joy in your own company. Instead of feeling lonely, you will experience a sense of tranquility and ease. Viewing solitude as a state of being all-one, you will feel a deep connection to yourself and the world around you. Use this time to truly understand your desires and needs, paving the way for you to live life according to your own wishes, at your own speed.
Understanding the Need to Slow Down
Before we explore the ideal pace for you, let's take a moment to understand why we often find ourselves rushing. This understanding will shed light on the purpose of your 'ReTREAT Yourself' journey. Can I share my thoughts? I believe you're here because you want to learn how to love yourself more and allow yourself to take a step back occasionally!
From Burn-Out to Bliss
Have you ever noticed how fast-paced life can be? It seems like everyone is constantly on the move, always in a hurry. But what if we took a moment to slow down and appreciate the present? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Do you find yourself constantly occupied?
Are you constantly on the move?
Do you feel like you're always in a hurry?
Are you exhausted from all the running around?
☼ How are you feeling right now? On a scale of 0-10, with 0 being Burn-Out and 10 being Bliss, where would you rate your peace of mind at this moment?
Mindful Living: What Pace Suits You Best
Why hurry? Seriously, what's the hurry all about? It's LIFE. Life has a beginning and an end. If you rush, you'll only reach your end faster. So, what's the hurry all about?
Do you want to fully embrace the present moment?
Do you also want to cherish and savor life's precious moments?
Isn't life about immersing yourself in it, using all your senses, and appreciating the valuable lessons it teaches you?
Maybe we only have one life, so why not live it with mindfulness? Slowly. Beautifully. Gracefully.
☼ What pace suits you best? Rate your current speed in life on a scale of 0-10. Zero stands for a mindful and intentional lifestyle, whereas ten represents the complete opposite.
A Wake-Up Call to Prioritize Self-Care and Well-being
I understand that coping with burnout can be incredibly challenging. It's important to remember that there's no rush to overcome life's obstacles quickly. There's no reward for pushing yourself to the point of burnout. In fact, the only consequence is the toll it takes on your well-being. It's crucial to avoid or recover from burnout in the best way possible.
Many people who have experienced burnout have found it to be a wake-up call, prompting them to make significant changes in their lives. They often view burnout as a blessing in disguise, as it helps them realize what needs to be changed. Only why not take a moment to pause and make necessary changes before reaching the point of damaging your nervous system? It's important to stop rushing and take this opportunity to make a positive change.
☼ Picture your body as a radio. When you find yourself constantly rushing through life, this internal 'radio' will begin to send you a message: 'Slow Down!'. If you fail to heed its warning, the volume will amplify: 'Slow Down!!!'. How loud does your body need to be in order for you to take notice at this very moment?
Listen to Your Body: The Warning Signs of Burnout You Shouldn't Ignore
It is crucial to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you, such as various aches and pains, as they could be indicators of burnout. Ignoring these signs may lead to an increase in their intensity, with your body eventually screaming at you to "Slow Down!!!" Unfortunately, by the time you realize the severity of the situation, it may already be too late.
If you continue to neglect these warnings, your body will force you to stop and rest. This can manifest in ways such as forgetting simple tasks like making a cup of coffee, placing the kettle in the fridge instead of on the stove, or struggling to walk or find your way home. We understand this firsthand because we have experienced it ourselves.
☼ It's important to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you, as they could be signs of burnout. Taking action and not ignoring these warning signs is crucial to avoid any negative consequences. Are you giving your body the attention it needs?
Unplug and Unwind: How to Take a Break and Reconnect with Yourself
I can relate to your desire to unplug and unwind. Having some time alone and reconnecting with yourself can be incredibly fulfilling. However, in this introductory blog, I want to highlight the health benefits of taking a step back from a busy lifestyle.
So, let's explore the underlying reasons for being constantly busy. Our main question here will be: “What is the rush all about?”. Let's see if you share the same viewpoint. Of course, it's not necessary for you to agree with me. I'm simply speculating that the constant rush and reluctance to slow down might be due to...
… not having to feel what is happening in our lives.
I know too many people who keep themselves overly busy and keep putting their head in the sand. It is just like little kids do: ‘In case I don’t look at the monster in the closet, it is not there’. YES, it’s there!
… not addressing the situations in our lives that are actually screaming for attention.
Anxiety, depression, chaos and all kinds of aches, pains and chronic dis-eases. Disturbing thoughts, painful feelings and uncomfortable bodily sensations are signs from your body to guide you towards finding answers and trying a different approach to have your needs met. You could ask yourself: “What is my body trying to tell me?”.
… not knowing how to entertain ourselves.
How do you recharge? Can you do it in a way that is positive, caring and compassionate to yourself and others around you? Could you possible care for a quieter world in which you can enjoy a slower, more attentive way of living it? Or like our favourite Yoga instructor says in his classes: “Can you invite even more kindness into all that you do?”. Thank you, James Higgins.
… not wanting to accept that life is just life.
We keep ourselves overly busy. What is wrong with doing nothing? What is wrong with perhaps being a little bored? Why not just do nothing for a while? Do we just always need to perform and be great every minute of our day? What if life is ‘just’ life? You wake up, you do your stuff, you go back to bed. What if that is just it? Even when your life, actions and deeds go unnoticed, how bad would that be?
☼ Reflecting on the message your body is trying to convey is truly worthwhile. Your body has the ability to provide important clues about your overall health and what it needs. So, what did you observe about your body today?
Finding Balance and Enjoying the Present Moment
Here's how I see it. Life isn't just about constantly pushing yourself to the edge. It's about giving yourself the opportunity to grow and move forward when the timing is perfect. As Marc Allen wisely states in his book 'The Magical Path': "...in its own perfect timing for the highest good of all." Believe that it will happen. Take a moment to slow down and truly cherish life. This will allow you to appreciate both your inner world and the world that surrounds you. Remember, it's never too late. Take off those 'running shoes' and give yourself a break.
Mindful Living: How to Slow Down
Join me on the ReTREAT Yourself journey where you can explore the benefits of mindful living and discover ways to slow down. Gain valuable tools to enhance your experience and take care of your well-being.
Take a moment to find tranquility by focusing on your breath.
Allow yourself to be fully present and mindful of each inhale and exhale.
Remember to let go of any judgments and simply observe.
Cultivate a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the present moment.
Cultivating Self-Awareness: A Journey to Positive Change
Positive change happens from a place of understanding and becoming aware of what is actually alive in you. With this I mean: “What do you hear inside of your head and sense & feel in your body?”. This process of awareness takes time. It also asks for a lot of patience to JUST BE with whatever needs to be held in your attention. You will need to develop the skill to stand still, to sit still and to do nothing, to just BE and to truly listen to what is happening inside of you. LISTEN to your inner landscape. This process of awareness is essential for restoring your relationship with yourself.
Listen. Discover. Respect. Honour.
Take the time to listen attentively and explore every side of who you are. By honoring every part of yourself, you can feel complete once again. Just focus on being in the present moment. No need to rush or strive for anything more. No need to pretend to be someone else. Just be yourself!
Words of Encouragement
Want to learn how to slow down and take breaks from your busy life? Check out the 12-step guide in the upcoming blog post. If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to me. And hey, why not join me for an off-grid retreat on Mallorca Island to practice being present? Simply contact me.
➳ Let’s begin …
Signs. When you see a ☼ on the ‘ReTREAT Yourself’ blogs it means ‘Try this exercise!’.
Terms. Sometimes I say ‘blog’, ‘step’ , ‘session’, ‘journey’ , ‘program’ or ‘course’ and it all refers to a step on the ‘ReTREAT Yourself’ journey. When you see (s) it means ‘Source’ and sometimes a blog was inspired by a certain source and then it will be mentioned as ‘Inspiration ☼’
I versus We. I wrote the entire blog series ‘ReTREAT Yourself’ myself. However, sometimes you see I and sometimes We mentioned in the text. When you see ‘we’, I refer to you and me and all others who are reading the blogs.
Links. Links to external pages on the web should all open up in a new tab and links to pages on my website should take you to that page in the same tab. Hope it all works well and if not, please be so kind to notify me, so I can adjust it.
Do. ☼ Write down the word ‘ReTREAT’ in the middle of a BIG blank page. Write down everything that comes to mind. Continue adding ideas to this mind-map. When you think you’re done. Look at your notes. Are you ready for some quiet time, you think?.
Inspiration ☼ Do we have one life or more? This question came up in this part of the introduction. The TED video from Stephen Cave offers you an interesting view on death and our soul “The 4 stories we tell ourselves about death”.
Inspiration ☼ When I refer to the body, I don’t just mean the physical body. With it I refer to the physical body, emotional body, mental body, environmental body and spiritual body. This is the way I understood the theory shared with me and other students at a Yin Yoga Teacher Training given by Sarah Powers who is known from the book ‘Insight Yoga’. When you refer to the body, mind and heart, what do you mean by it?
Inspiration ☼ Marc Allen from the book ‘The Mystical Path’ (ISBN 978-1-60868-145-7) writes about how things can and will be manifested in its own perfect timing. Perhaps it’s an approach you’d like to read more about on your ‘ReTreat Yourself’ days.
Take notes. ☼ You could go back to the beginning of the blog and read through it again and take notes on anything that comes to mind as you were reading about creating with ease.
Anything else? ☼ Anything that bubbled up to surface in your body, heart or mind whilst reading this blog, write it down. Go and have a break and go to the next blog when you’re in the right mood to continue your exploration.
Notebook. Always have a notebook with you. Especially on those days when you are retreating from the world. When the mind is full of thoughts, it can be useful to write them all down. It will help your mind to get quiet. Julia Cameron from ‘The Artist Way’ calls this exercise ‘Morning pages’. For 15 minutes per day, you simply write your thoughts down. Try it.
Continue.Go to the next blog ‘Slow Down and Recharge’ and find out more about carving out time for self-care.
Bring me (back) to the overview of the 12 steps to slow down your pace: ReTREAT Yourself Steps.
Need help? I’m here in case you would like more personal support on finding another pace in life! Contact me.
ReTREAT with me on Mallorca. Would you like to make it easier for yourself? Join me for an off-grid retreat on Mallorca Island. Sometimes being away from familiar surroundings and being on your own, can be a great way to reset yourself. Just reach out!
Ready for the next step?
Go to the next blog ‘Slow Down and Recharge’ and find out more about carving out time for self-care.
Feedback is always welcome!
Were the blogs useful like I’ve intended them to be? Contact me as well for positive feedback. It will be great to hear from you and see the result of your work.
Or is there a link that doesn't work? Do you feel some steps are missing or not explained well enough? Tell me about it as well. I can always update the various blogs on ‘ReTREAT Yourself’ for you!
Could you use some help?
I’d love to help. Try a 20-minute chat for free. Find out what I can do for you as a copywriter or (yoga)coach. There’s no commitment, pressure or further obligation.
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