The Strength of Moving Slowly

There’s a lot to be said for moving slowly… you just don’t hear it much.

We live in history’s fastest time – too fast. But on top of that (maybe because of it) it’s also the age of YOLO. Most of what’s shoved in our faces compels us to go faster and do more for fear of missing out.

But YOLO + FOMO = a whole lotta UH-OH.

Exhibit 1: The way shit generally is.

Always hard charging and getting shit done’s great on paper and looks cool from the outside, but actually living it’s pretty much the opposite. It’s demanding, stressful and draining. It puts the focus on getting to the next thing rather than being in the moment… which is isolating. It’s fine in short bursts, and can be good for getting shit done, but as a lifestyle it’s a psyche shredder. People going too fast and doing too much makes for general crankiness and life lived in physical, social and spiritual burnout.

On the other hand, going slowly’s awesome… in lots of ways.

It projects strength and control of one’s frame. Rather than having to be hyper-alert and constantly pivoting, you’re able to just relax and be in the moment. You’re focusing on the fun, purpose-oriented stuff – doing what you want to do, as you want to do it. You’re centered and cool, which puts others at ease and makes them want to be around and engage you.

And for good reason.

Engaging with over-busy, fast-moving people tends to be the opposite. They’re chronically distracted so you’re forced to compete with all of their other obligations for their time, energy and attention. Plus their focus tends to default to their business… which is cool for them but boring for you (and everyone else). They’re almost always stressed, either outwardly or inwardly. It’s a lower quality of interaction – you’re not getting their best, you’re getting their selfish, their leftover… their meh.

This is fine and can work if the fast-mover is just a means to an end (business partner, co-worker, gatekeeper, etc.) and all you’re doing is handling logistics and strategy. But it’s garbage for social connection and real enjoyment.

Think about it: most of our best memories are made when the world slows down and we’re living by feeling – unpressured, uninhibited, unburdened. Lying on a beach sipping Mai Tais, EDM concerts where you were felt reality breathe and temporarily achieved oneness, dates so good the rest of the world melts away, backyard BBQs playing cornhole and swimming, bottomless mimosas on Sunday Fundays, the kind of all-in sex where you feel each pulse of the other’s being.

…All the moments where you go “Aaaaaaah… fuck yes. This is it.”

Moving slowly also lets you think about and process things more. Instant exposure and reaction to everything isn’t a great life approach… as we’ve been aggressively learning over the last ~20 years. It’s the right move for certain things, sure… but really not for a whole bunch of others. Good reaction needs calibration, and calibration needs consideration.

Moving slowly rules – let’s value it more and do more of it. We’ll all feel better.