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In our rushed world, living unhurried isn't easy—it's sacred soul care. To slow down is the choice to see your life more fully. When we choose to slow down, we create space to savor goodness in ways uniquely suited for our artful living.- Pastor Angie
SOULjourner,
Every artform requires the utmost patience + practice. Practicing an unhurried life is no different. You can savor a robust, adventurous life without succumbing to a hurried lifestyle. The key lies in prioritizing + cultivating stillness and being present over ceaseless, frenzied striving.
The Paradox of Stillness
There's a common misconception that stillness means inactivity or sitting quietly in meditation, or that slowing down means we'll fall behind.
This couldn't be further from the truth. Stillness is not about doing nothing—it's about being rooted in the right Something, or rather, Someone. It's about discerning the source of our activity and releasing our grip on outcomes we mistakenly believe we can control.
There's a common misconception that stillness means inactivity or sitting quietly in meditation.
Stillness, which on the surface may seem like inactivity, is a state of profound activity: grounding, discerning, and releasing.
Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God"
Here, "still" (Hebrew: raphah) means to cease striving, to let go, surrender.
It's an invitation to stop our anxious efforts and recognize God's sovereignty.
Exodus 14:14 - "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
In this context, "still" (Hebrew: charash) means to be silent, to stop speaking.
It's about trusting God's action rather than relying on our own words or efforts.
1 Kings 19:11-12 - God's presence in the "still small voice" or "gentle whisper"
This passage emphasizes that God often speaks not in dramatic displays, but in quietness.
It encourages attentiveness and listening in stillness.
Mark 4:39 - Yeshua/Jesus calming the storm: "Peace! Be still!"
Here, "still" (Greek: phimoō) literally means "be muzzled" or "be silenced."
It demonstrates the power of stillness over chaos.
In biblical usage, stillness is about addressing a transformative state of awareness that yields inner calm, trust, and receptivity to God's presence + guidance.
Stillness is an active choice to rest from our frenzied striving and to rest in God's sufficiency.
The Frenzy Fallacy
Frenzy often comes from trying to rush through experiencing life—"There is so much to do and get done." But when you shift to making a life worth living you will confront a harmful pace with compassion, and an inhospitable demand with curiosity, both are features of slow living.
Slowing down honors your sacred nervous system and processing style. It also offers a hospitable space for you to discern the source of your angst and the SOULution.
Different Paths to Being Present
The journey to unhurried living isn't one-size-fits-all.
There are many embodied paths to experiencing being present. No matter your stage of life or unique neurotype (how your brain + nervous system process and participate in the world), you're invited to savor life uniquely as yourself.
For neurodivergent souls, you might amplify being present through:
Finding peace in repetitive movements or activities
Walking a familiar route while praying
Kneading bread dough mindfully
Knitting or crocheting during quiet time
Rocking gently while meditating
Tapping fingers in rhythm while reading
Enjoying intense focus on "stuff" special projects/interests
Rearranging stuff
Cataloging stuff
Creating stuff
Researching stuff
Journaling stuff
Donating stuff
Trashing stuff (you get the idea)
Experiencing divine presence through sensory engagement
Touching something or someone that grounds you
Walking barefoot in grass during outdoor devotions
Using essential oils during prayer time
Listening to specific frequencies or worship music
Creating structured routines that make space for holy moments
Setting specific alarms with favorite sounds
Using visual calendars/schedules
Breaking prayer time into timed segments
Creating transitions between activities
Using affirmation cards in a specific order
Having a particular prayer spot in or outside your home
Embracing body-based prayer + praise
Gentle stretching while reciting scripture
Dancing freely
Breathing practices synchronized with Breath Prayer
Finding God in the beauty of patterns + detail
Studying sacred geometry in nature
Creating a vision board or detailed prayer journal
Noticing recurring themes in scripture or a poem
Taking sketches/photos of natural patterns during meditation walks
Coloring, doodling, or drawing
Noticing cadence + patterns while in conversation with someone
Finding peace in organizing objects
Remember, there is no "right" way to be unhurried. Your unique neurotype is a gift that offers fascinating ways of savoring the present moment.
What feels like sacred stillness to one person might feel like disconnection to another. The invitation is to discover unhurry in your rhythms of being present with yourself, God, and others—whether that's through movement, sound, silence, or structure.
The Hurry Disconnection
How do you identify hurry in your life? Like weeds in a garden, hurry's presence manifests differently in each soul. For some, it appears as overwhelming sensory input – when the world becomes too loud, too bright, too much, choking out the tender shoots of inner peace.
For others, it surfaces as executive function challenges, where organizing thoughts and actions feels like trying to cultivate a garden without the proper tools or understanding of the seasons.
Hurry is that combative force of impatience that interferes with our unique rhythms of connection—with self, God, and others.
Hurry is like a rogue vine, tangling itself around the delicate plants in your soul's garden, disrupting your sacred cadence of being.
Hurrying is your mind racing ahead to future harvests while your body struggles to remain rooted in the present soil. This split creates a profound disconnection from the sacred now, where flourishing dwells.
The beautiful truth is that we each have our way of finding our way back to being present.
Some souls find their rhythm through movement—a dance of connection with the gifts of life, like sunflowers reaching toward the sun. Others discover it in a silence that speaks volumes, like fallow earth resting in winter.
Many need a harmonious blend of both, like a well-tended garden that thrives in all seasons. Whatever your rhythm, remember this truth: connection is what you're designed for, and what you already have in the Beloved.
An Unhurried Appraisal
What sensory activities or environments tend to trigger hurry in your system?
What accommodations or tools help you savor being present?
An Unhurried Blessing
May you savor your life and all the gifts entrusted to you. Receive the soulful artform of unhurried living. It's not about win or lose; it's about your birthright to receive—in each unhurried moment—the assurance of abundant goodness, a goodness that is always accessible to you.
SOULution Gift Set Feature
Slow + Savor Gift Set
This sacred collection is designed to slow you down to amplify your joy:
Breath Prayer card set (30-ct)
Frosted Crystal Beverage Glass
Capri Spritz, 12 oz premium non-alcoholic cocktail
Crispy Pineapple Slices
Wood Tropical Monstera Leaf Stirrer
Joy Coaster Set (4 ct)
Joy Cocktail Napkin Set (20 ct)
Affirmation Travel Candle (4 oz)
Elegant Pinewood Box (with a luxe ribbon that ties your experience together)
Complimentary Handwritten Notecard
Charcuterie Gift Set
Designed to support savoring connection creatively at mealtime:
Choose your board shape: Round or Rectangular Charcuterie Board
Tamarind Oh! Sauce, 10.5 oz.
Hostess Soul Care Kit
Created to gift to a big-hearted hostess who is encouraged to savor celebrating her worth:
Luxury Affirmation Candle (8 oz.)
Gold, electric candle warmer
Medium-size Peachy Party Gift Bag
Joy Coaster Set (4 ct)
Joy Cocktail Napkin Set (20 ct)
BUILD YOUR OWN GIFT SET >>
Until next time,
Gift from your soul.
✧
Deepen Your Soul Care Journey
Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.
Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research, it is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
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