The Power of Slowing Down:Stop Running. Start Living.

#Presence

What if the fastest way to get what you want… is to slow the hell down?

We’re addicted to speed. Hustle. Cramming every second with more. You’re racing—through emails, goals, life—chasing a finish line that never stops moving. But here’s the truth: the faster you go, the less you see. The less you feel. The less you live.

I learned this the hard way. I was driving to Subway for a quick lunch with my young family—my kids and wife, waiting for a rare moment with Dad. I’d been absent too much, swallowed by work, deadlines, pressure. My mind was a blur when a Cubs fan in a beat-up sedan swerved in front of me, slammed his brakes, and nearly sent me into his bumper. I laid on the horn, fury rising. He flipped me off. I lost it. Screaming, veins popping, I was ready to brawl at that intersection. Then, like a slap, a quiet voice inside whispered: “What are you doing, Mark?”

That moment cracked me open. Stunned me into submission. I pulled over, hands shaking, heart pounding. My family was waiting—sandwiches on the table, kids probably giggling, expecting me—and I was raging over a stranger. What was I racing toward? What if slowing down isn’t weakness? What if it’s power? It’s a lesson I’m still refining, relearning, readjusting—every time my pace outruns my planning.

Slowing down isn’t about doing less. It’s about being more. Here’s what I’ve found:

1. Clarity Emerges in the Pause

When you slow down, the noise fades. You see the anger you’re carrying, the priorities you’ve buried. That day, I saw a dad choosing rage over presence. Slowing down is like wiping fog from a mirror—you finally see yourself. Try this: sit still for five minutes. No phone. Just you. What’s screaming for your attention?

2. Sleep Returns in Stillness

Hustle steals your rest. At 3 a.m., your brain’s churning, solving problems that could wait. Slowing down means letting go—trusting you don’t need to fix everything now. I’ve learned to roll over, breathe, and sleep again. When did you last wake up feeling whole instead of wired?

3. Connection Deepens in Presence

You can’t love in a rush. You can’t know your kids when you’re half gone. Slowing down means really talking at meals, taking our time. I love hearing my kids’ stories, their quirky dreams, their giggles. Those moments feel like home. Who are you speeding past? Who’s waiting for you to linger?

4. Strengths Shine in Slowness

Rushing leans on weaknesses—reactivity, impatience. Slowing down is creative, letting you play to your strengths. I’m strategic, a maximizer, a relator. When I pause, I build and connect from my best self. Speeding up, though? That’s process-driven, policy-bound, rigid. Slow down, and you create from freedom. What talents are you burying in the race?

5. Courage Grows in Stillness

Hustle buries fear. Slow down, and you face it—the choices you’ve dodged, the life you’re not living. In that intersection’s aftermath, I faced my anger, my absence. It gave me the guts to change—to prioritize my family, my purpose. What truth is waiting in your quiet?

Your Challenge: Dare to Slow Down

This isn’t about abandoning ambition. It’s about reclaiming your life. So here’s my challenge: for one day, move at half speed. Walk slower. Listen longer. Feel deeper. Notice what shifts. Notice what scares you. Notice what lights you up. The world screams, “Hurry!” But the secret to a life that matters? It’s in the pause. It’s in the breath. It’s in the courage to slow down and live.

What are you waiting for?