Downshift: Stop and watch the thunderstorm
Do you remember a time when you daydreamed? Perhaps you dreamed of traveling to the moon or becoming a great leader, inventor or explorer. Dreams aren’t just for kids! In many ways dreams are the foundation for your life built your way. But, they can also fade away if you don’t take time to downshift: make space, pay attention, reflect, appreciate and get curious.
When adults don’t keep their dreams alive they can end up in a place called “Zombieland.” Louise Hayes and Joseph Ciarrochi use this metaphor in their work to describe a place where nothing new happens, colors are dull and people walk the streets mindlessly from one duty to the next. So many people in Zombieland never imagined they would live a life going through the motions, becoming trapped in their robotic way of living that is filled with stress, obligations, and responsibilities. Somehow they forgot how to downshift, notice, allow space to feel their emotions and do things that bring them joy.
This Blue Zones lesson, downshifting or slowing down, brings together many of the previous lessons we’ve been exploring over the past few months: eating right, appreciating friends, finding time for spirituality, making family a priority etc. Some of the longest lived people interviewed for Dan Buettner’s book were “wise enough to know that many of life’s most precious moments pass us by if we’re lurching blindly toward some goal.” Dan described watching Gozie Shinzato in Okinawa take time to watch a brilliant thunderstorm while she washed dishes. He also mentioned Tonino Tola from Sardinia taking time to stop and gaze out over the emerald green land where he lived for almost 80 years, yet he still took time to appreciate it every day.
As Americans, we have been socialized to hold work and productivity in high regard. I know I have! One of my personal mottos used to be “I’m better when I’m busier.” Downshifting isn’t something that comes naturally to me. Recently, I’ve been trying to downshift by giving myself time and space to reflect and slow down which allows me to take small steps towards the things I value. Cooking is one of the things that helps me downshift. (This month’s Plant Slant recipe is Black Bean Burgers).
Some of the longest lived people interviewed for Dan Buettner’s book, The Blue Zones, were “wise enough to know that many of life’s most precious moments pass us by if we’re lurching blindly toward some goal.” By downshifting, we can change paths and take small steps towards the things we value. Cooking is one way I downshift. This month’s plant slant recipe is Black Bean Burgers.
We all become zombies or “sleepwalkers” sometimes, losing sight of what is important to us. Taking time to downshift and doing things connected to our values allows us to make changes and put us back on a path to lead a life of balance and vitality.
Reflection: Are you living in Zombieland or Vitalityland? Is there an area from these six areas of well-being that you have been neglecting? (1. Connecting with others; 2. Challenging yourself and learning; 3. Caring for yourself; 4. Being Active; 5. Being present and embracing the moment; 6. Giving to others and having a positive influence.)
Action: Pick one area from your reflection above and brainstorm things you can do to help you downshift and connect with the part of yourself that has drifted away from your values and into Zombieland. Commit to doing this activity once a week over the next few weeks and notice if a shift occurs in your daily life.
Recipe: Black Bean Burgers