Monday Mitzvah: Slow Down You Move Too Fast

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast-you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” — Eddie Cantor

Imagine if you went to open the refrigerator door and it wouldn’t open until you were fully present and focused on the task at hand.

A friend just returned from the Wyatt Webb Equine Experience at Miraval Resort in Arizona and told me about her interesting experience. She and the other students were placed in a large corral with a half a dozen horses and a bucket full of horse-grooming tools. Their task was to clean the horse’s hooves. Apparently, a horse will not lift its leg to have its hooves cleaned unless the handler is completely focused on the task at hand.

In his book, It’s Not About the Horse, Wyatt explains that “the horse will simply mirror you.” If your communication is confused, if you get frustrated or you’re timid, or if you easily lose your focus as leader of the task, the horse instantly reflects what is going on.”

My friend said the process of cleaning the hooves was a deeply emotional process because you had to clear you mind of fear, weakness and distractions and become fully present with the horse in order to get it to lift its foot. She said some people went 3 days without ever being able to focus enough to get the horse to cooperate.

For this week’s Monday Mitzvah let’s slow down and fully focused on whatever task is before us. Whether it is opening the refrigerator door, speaking with the checker at grocery store, picking your kids up from camp, talking to your spouse about the day, be fully focused on that one activity and let go of other distractions.

Slowing down is a gift to ourselves and good deed to those around us. Imagine your co-workers and family members as the horse at Miraval. In order to effectively work and communicate with them be pure of heart and intention or like the horse they may not budge.

Slowing down is another guerilla good deed that only you will know about but which will have a tremendous ripple effect. When we rush, we miss things. As Eddie Cantor says not only do we miss the scenery but we miss the essence of the moment. We miss the opportunity to connect….both with ourselves and others.

Some ways to slow down:

1. Get up a half hour earlier than you usually do. Get up earlier so you have extra time in the morning and don’t have to rush. You will be amazed at how a half hour can change your life.

2. Listen more and talk less. Really listen when people are talking and resist the temptation to think about what you are going to say next. Like a horse people can feel it when you are really listening and it is one of the best gifts you can give someone.

3. Stop multi-tasking: Focus on one project at a time. You will still get everything done and the process will be much more enjoyable.

4. Physically relax your body: Our poor bodies are wound so tight all day long. Take a moment to breathe deeply, relax your neck and shoulder muscles, and shake out your hands. You will be amazed how this little exercise will slow you down.

5. Be intentional: Think about the desired outcome of every experience. When you open the refrigerator door, think about the desired outcome of a healthy snack or refreshing drink. It will make you appreciate the moment.

Tell us about your Monday Mitzvah. How did you slow down this week? What kind of impact did it have on your world?