Hey Reader,
Have you been pacing yourself this week, or has it been another week of running full speed ahead?
This week has been a really slow, couch potato kinda week for me with a lot of rumination, introspection, and also some confusion. Since I track my cycle religiously (and more recently, the moon cycle) and am aware of natural dips in my energy levels and the need for periods of more inwardness and release, I feel perfectly okay with how my week has gone.
In contrast to the naturally slower pace of life that I have adopted (that feels completely aligned with my energetic design), my husband is much more regimented in his daily routines and is constantly ‘on the move’. I feel this difference in our energy and pace acutely because we both have the privilege of working from home. And sometimes, I find myself wanting to remind my husband to give himself some breathing space, to slow down and create more spaciousness in his days.
Yet, I do not believe that ‘slow’ is right and ‘fast’ is bad. This is not a binary (like many things in life), but a spectrum and it makes sense that our pace of life would look and feel different based on our cycles, our season of life, our unique energetic blueprint, and even the environments we are part of.
When I was still working at a non-profit organisation a few years ago, I remember feeling guilty and ashamed even, for not being able to tolerate higher levels of stress and thrive while moving at a much faster pace compared to some of my other colleagues.
It is natural for the people and environment that we are surrounded by to influence or impose on our (expected) pace in life. But if this is not already aligned with your OWN natural pace and energetic blueprint, this striving to match the pace or even out-perform the pace of others will eventually take its toll on your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. And I say this from my own experience.
So take a moment to check in with yourself - whose pace are you moving at?
With your well-being at heart,
Elia Kanak Rajah [she/her]
Follow me on LinkedIn
The power of Pauses and Pacing
One way to know if you are moving at the ‘right’ pace for you is to check in with yourself: Are you are moving through your day on auto-pilot mode, barely aware of what is going on around you and simply going through the motions of your day?
As sensitive and caring individuals who want to serve others, it’s all too easy to slip into this mode, especially when our days are packed with responsibilities and demands from different sources, often with an implicit call to ‘hurry up’, ‘work faster’ and ‘keep moving’.
If you are currently running on auto-pilot, there is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to all of us, and it is not your fault.
In my experience and in observing others, “auto-pilot” mode is one of our best defenses against the sense of urgency, competition, hyper-productivity and drive to succeed (in different forms) that are the manifestations of capitalist systems and cultures.
It allows us to disconnect from our bodies, our emotions, our true sense of purpose, and instead focus solely on outputs and outcomes in order to reach a goal that is either self-imposed or imposed on us by the organisations we work for. It sets up an external impression for others that we are doing all the right things and are managing our workload and life responsibilities well.
But being on auto-pilot does come at a cost.
The cost of being present and fully alive in the moment.
The cost of savouring rich and meaningful relationships that makes life fulfilling.
Imagine walking through a beautiful garden but being so focused on reaching the other side that you don’t notice the flowers blooming at your feet. That’s what auto-pilot feels like—moving forward without truly experiencing the journey.
Or as author Robert M. Pirsig said in his book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,
“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you’re no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn’t just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.”
Now tell me where are you headed?
What speed are you moving at?
Most importantly, why?
And, how do we break free from this cycle if indeed you find yourself in ‘auto-pilot’ mode?
Pause and pace yourself - yes, it is that simple (though not always easy).
Taking a moment to pause allows us to reconnect with our deeper purpose—the very reason we chose this path in the first place. When we slow down just enough to take stock of where we are and where we’re headed, we regain clarity and direction. This isn’t just about taking breaks; it’s about creating intentional spaces for reflection and renewal.
Consider setting aside a few minutes each day for mindful breathing or a short walk in nature. These small pauses can make a world of difference in how we show up for ourselves and others.
Remember, it’s not about doing more; it’s about being more present in what we do. When we pace ourselves, we create room for growth and transformation—not just for us but for those we serve as well.
Whichever season of life you may be in, I hope you honour the pace that is ‘just right’ FOR you, even if it goes against what is expected of you.
Attune to your Body
Explore synchronising both your breath and movement in this practice.
You’re welcome to raise both your arms up towards the ceiling and then lower them back down at your own pace.
If you’d like, you may choose to inhale as you raise your arms up towards the ceiling and exhale as you lower them back down. Maybe repeating this three times at the pace of your own breath.
Alternatively, you may choose to move and breathe separately without pairing your breath with your movement, perhaps repeating the movement three times as well.
Do you notice any difference when you pair your movement with your breath vs. breathing and moving at different speeds/ rhythms?
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Contemplate with Soul
Invite in gentle curiousity as you sit with the following questions and journal/ draw/ creatively express/ move your body and allow the answers to emerge from within.
- Where are you headed?
- What speed are you moving at? Is this speed aligned with your own natural pace or the pace you want to move at?
- Most importantly, why? Why are you headed to the goal/ destination, and why are you moving at the speed you’re moving at?
- Now that you know your why, how would you like to recalibrate either your destination or your speed so it feels more aligned to your true desires?
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Interested in a deeper connection?
Let's meet over coffee (online)!
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