Pause & Presence: April 2024 Reflection
Being present and taking pause amidst urgent matters
The month of April has lovingly challenged me in my practice of slowing down and being present and all that can be experienced within a given moment. I have been thinking about how slowing down is the counter to the false sense of urgency that white supremacy culture demands of us. Our systems and thus our cultures, both work-wise and relational, tend to ask us to do things quickly, with full effort and to “perfection”. I have been shifting from trying to do things “right” or “perfect” and instead do things well.
Wellness requires a more holistic experience. We consume so much information and content daily that it is easy for our bodies to disassociate and disconnect in order to take in the next thing. But lately my body has been inviting me to pause, to go slow and deep ,and when the fullness and bigness of justice work makes me full of sadness, anger, and excitement (often all at the same time), I let those feelings do their work in me. I get curious about what they are trying to tell me, and it often fuels my creativity. I want to savor moments of embodiment in a culture that is perpetually disembodied, and going fast does not let me do that. Furthermore, in the work of equity and justice, going fast does not allow us the room to go deep. I am learning to relish in being re-sensitized to the fullness of my experiences, and going slow allows me space to do that: Before moving to the next task, the next message, or the next exchange, to be with what comes, and be curious what it invites me into.
“I agree that the social situation is urgent, but frantic responses to resilient problems will not solve anything.”
It is important to note that slowing down is an act of care and commitment; it is not a procrastination or avoidance of the hard and complex work that must be done. It is an orientation that calls us to be embodied in our commitments to justice, and this will include joy and grief, rest and recharge. So, as Bayo says beautifully, “times ARE urgent, let us slow down,” and I pray that our slowing down will be purposeful and meaningful. May we trust that slowing down and the pause are very much part of liberation work; That building a practice of being in the moment and taking time to feel things fully is worthy of our time and our commitment. It is a core part of becoming embodied people.
Reflection Question
I would love to hear from you: How is a false sense of urgency showing up in your life and your work, and where could slowing down and/or a pause be an invitation to do things well?
(A reminder to be self-compassionate in your reflection, “no one has ever been shamed into liberation.”)
