Slowing Down

You’re driven, focused, and always on the go. For many entrepreneurs, the idea of slowing down is uncomfortable. But here’s the reality: slowing down will accelerate your growth, decision-making, and ultimately, your success. It’s hard to understand when you’re always moving, always pushing forward, but the greatest progress happens in stillness.

Why Slowing Down Feels Uncomfortable

When you slow down, you might feel like you’re losing time, control, falling behind, or even risking failure. Your mind, when unsettled, pulls you into a state of stress. So, what do you do? You distract it by staying busy. You keep going to avoid the discomfort that arises when you pause. But here’s the harsh reality: the more you push without taking time to slow down, the more disconnected you become from your clarity and True Self.

I was recently at an event with the Small Giants Community—some of my favorite people in the world. During one of the exercises, we were asked to reflect on what keeps us up at night. I proudly said “nothing!” I felt confident, like everything was on track, both personally and professionally. But later that evening, I received a message that unsettled me. As I returned to my hotel room, my mind started racing. Fortunately, I practice Discipline 4: Be Still, twice a day, and although I knew sitting down to meditate would be difficult, I did it anyway. It wasn’t easy, but I was able to slow my mind, bring awareness to the physical sensations of anxiety in my body, and settle. By morning, I was clear-headed and ready to address the issue. This is the power of slowing down—it brings clarity when the mind feels chaotic.

Journaling Prompt

Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed and pushed through rather than slowing down. How might that situation have unfolded differently if you had taken time to pause and collect yourself?

The Power of Stillness in Decision-Making

When you slow down, you create space for clear thinking. Decision-making is one of the most critical skills for entrepreneurs, and it’s often clouded by emotions like anxiety, stress, or fear of failure. By slowing down, you give yourself the opportunity to step back and see the bigger picture. This is where the best decisions come from—a place of clarity and alignment with your True Self.

I’ve heard from some people that taking a break or slowing down makes them feel vulnerable, almost like they’re “exposing” themselves. I read a story once about a person who said that pausing feels like death to him. This discomfort stems from the security we’ve built around being busy. It’s a habit. We associate constant movement with progress. It’s the resistance to slowing down that causes more suffering than the actual situation itself.

Journaling Prompt

Think of a recent decision you made while feeling stressed or rushed. How might that decision have changed if you had given yourself time to pause, breathe, and reflect?

Slowing Down So You Can Speed Up

One of the greatest misconceptions in entrepreneurship is that the harder you go, the faster you’ll get to your destination. But what if slowing down is the key to reaching your goals faster? When you take time to reflect, rest, and let go of constant striving, you open up space for new ideas, creativity, and clarity. You give your mind and body the chance to reset, which ultimately leads to better performance.

Slowing down allows you to align with your True Self, and this alignment gives you access to a deeper sense of purpose and focus. Whether in your business or personal life, this sense of clarity helps you move toward your goals with less resistance and more flow.

Remember, when you slow down, you’re not losing ground—you’re recalibrating your path so that when you do move forward, it’s with intentionality, precision, and purpose.

Journaling Prompt

Where in your life or business are you moving too fast, and how might slowing down bring clarity or ease to that area?

The Space Between Action

It will be powerful for you when you embrace the space between action and reactivity. By slowing down, you open the door to better decisions, clearer thinking, and ultimately, faster progress toward your goals. As uncomfortable as it may feel at first, slowing down is the gateway to unlocking your true entrepreneurial freedom.

Inspiration for the Week

“Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.” – John De Paola

Our next Group Coaching Program starts on January 13th. During our 10-session program, you will learn to deepen your understanding of yourself and, with that knowledge, how to protect your boundaries to free your True Self and ultimately Shine. 

I encourage you to take our True Self Assessment to learn how strong your foundation is.