Depth of Experience
“You really don’t need more time before death; what you need is more depth of experience during the time you’re given.” -Michael Singer
Those words feel so true to me. If you’re reading this, then it’s likely you experience some sense of rushing through life. Of time slipping by more and more quickly. The feeling that you just blinked and a year went by. In this situation, more time isn’t really going to do anything for you. More time to hustle, and be productive, and work late, and feel overwhelmed, and be burnt out… doesn’t actually sound all that great.
Do you remember being a kid, when a summer day could feel like an eternity? When waiting for the holidays was torturous because it felt like such a long time (instead of it feeling like there’s not nearly enough time to get everything done)? I sure do!
So how do you get that depth of experience back again? How can you make it accessible? How do you create it for yourself? The answer is delightfully simple and paradoxically difficult to actually do.
You slow down.
You slow down with intention. You slow down with purpose. You slow down, mindfully.
Not everyone is ready or willing to cultivate this depth of experience. I originally wrote ready, willing, or able… but I realized that the last wasn’t true. Everyone is able, it is simply a matter of choosing to make it a priority. As you rush headlong towards Christmas (for those of you who celebrate this occasion), slowing down might sound impossible. If you are a single mom working two jobs to care for her family you might be getting angry right now. But hear me out.
Slowing down doesn’t necessarily mean taking things off of your “to do” list (though you know by now that I strongly encourage reviewing that list frequently and taking things off that don’t actually need to be on there). Slowing down means bringing yourself mindfully into the present moment and noticing. Noticing the glint of the light in your daughter’s hair as you braid it for her in the morning. Noticing the way your coffee tastes and smells and how it warms you as you sip (or gulp!) it. Noticing the texture of your favourite comfy sweater against your skin. Noticing the slight tightness in your partner’s voice that cues you to ask how they are doing, really. Noticing how your body feels. Noticing takes practice.
If you can, take a few minutes today to sit somewhere quietly by yourself and check in with your body and your senses. Perhaps do a guided body scan meditation to ground you in the present moment and your physical self (if you’d like one, send me a message). Perhaps simply sit still, gaze out the window, and let your mind drift into a dreamspace. And if you can’t take a few minutes to be still, then simply bring your attention back to your breath as often as you can throughout the day. Practice slowing your breathing and noticing your surroundings and experiences in a mindful and present way, even if it is only for the span of a few breaths.
The more you practice bringing yourself mindfully into the present moment, the more natural it will become to spend time there, and the more depth you will experience in this life in the time that you have.
Much Love,
Eileen
P.S. As always, feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts, questions, or requests. I’m here to hold space for you.
