"Psychologist Rollo May equates pause with freedom. That is, freedom is the capacity to pause in the face of stimuli from many directions at once and, in this pause, to choose our response. The pause momentarily suspends our automatic reaction, and our responses no longer blindly follow stimulus."
"Slowing things down and deliberately paying attention to each aspect of our sensory experience can reveal things that we may have never noticed before. Awareness keeps old habits favored by automatic thoughts from having the final say in our choices."
"A slower pace of life reduces mental and emotional fatigue. Slowing down is also a strategic advantage for boosting productivity and creativity."
Attention spans are declining due to digital distraction, multitasking, and economic pressures favoring speed. However, intentional slowness offers significant benefits for mental health and performance. Pausing is fundamental to reflection and freedom, allowing us to interrupt automatic reactions and choose conscious responses. Slowing down and deliberately attending to sensory experiences reveals overlooked details and prevents habitual behaviors from controlling choices. Mindful practices like walking or meditation create pauses that reduce mental fatigue. Strategic slowness paradoxically boosts productivity and creativity while making life less stressful and more fulfilling.
#mindfulness-and-awareness #attention-and-focus #intentional-slowness #habit-formation-and-change #mental-health-and-wellbeing
Read at Psychology Today
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