Slow Down
Slow Down: Finding Peace in a Fast-Paced World
When I first listened to my mastered recording of Slow Down, I cried. I had finally given myself enough space to let go of perceived imperfections, and in that moment, the song released emotions I hadn’t even realized were still buried inside me.
It told my story of letting go and letting God in.
When I first expressed my desire to create music that spoke to mental health struggles, a friend suggested that I record my own version of Slow Down. The more I listened to other beautiful versions of this song, the more I knew I had to create my own interpretation of it. And wouldn’t you know—the process itself was healing.
ADHD, anxiety, and depression have been prevalent in my life and in the lives of my loved ones. And I’ve learned that when we don’t slow down—when we don’t take time to process, “sharpen the saw”, or even shed the unimportant or unnecessary distractions in our lives that don’t serve us—these challenges can become debilitating, even life-threatening.
I often think of the scripture in Psalms:
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
I try to be still, but my thoughts constantly interfere—All. The. Time. I sometimes have to read the same passage of scripture three times before I can finally slow my mind enough to absorb it. But I trust that if God has asked us to be still, then learning to do so is a necessary part of my spiritual progression.
But progression doesn’t happen overnight. So, I’m giving myself grace. Step by step, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:13), I am learning to set aside the “natural man” in me and instead wait upon the Lord, just as Psalms 3:5 instructs.
A Sacred Stillness in Music
One of my most still and sacred moments came when I closed my eyes in the studio and sang:
Be still, my child… Be still and wait on the Spirit of the Lord.
Music is a prayer. And as I sang those words, I realized I was reaching out to God—not just for myself, but for my children.
Oh, how I want my children to know that waiting upon the Lord is a process. It isn’t easy in today’s world, where everything moves at lightning speed and instant gratification is the norm. But if we are reaching out to God and still not feeling peace, perhaps we are going about it the wrong way.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus meet people where they were—the woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well, the man at the pool of Bethesda. These stories remind us that He does not expect us to fix ourselves before coming to Him. He meets us in our grief, our pain, and even in our shame of habitual sin, often when we are at our lowest point. For those of us who struggle with mental health challenges or neurodiversity, it’s easy to believe the lie that God is punishing us or that we are undeserving of His love. But as we allow the stories of Jesus to dispel those lies and shift our mindset, we experience His perfect acceptance and magnetic love drawing us closer to His divine assistance.
Practical Ways to Slow Down
In a recent EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) session, my therapist said something that stuck with me:
Slow down. Can we just sit with that feeling for a minute?
I was quick—like so many of us—to tell myself what I “should” be doing, what I was missing out on, or why I was feeling the way I was. Instead of allowing myself to fully experience my emotions, I rushed to rationalize or suppress them. But feelings are not something to be ashamed of or apologized for—they just are.
Like waves of the sea, emotions rise and fall. They may feel overwhelming, even paralyzing, but they are temporary. And if we allow ourselves to truly feel them—rather than push them away—we open the door to healing.
In a world obsessed with speed, quick fixes, and shortcuts, we often don’t remember or know how to slow down—our thoughts, our schedules, our obligations. But learning to do so is critical to our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We need time to let the waves wash over us and give place to new thoughts, which will create new feelings.
So what does slowing down actually look like? Here are some things that have made a difference in my life and that I will hopefully have the time to elaborate on in the future:
1. Recognize and Replace Discouraging Thoughts
One of the adversary’s greatest tools is discouragement. When we slow down our thinking, we can recognize the destructive thoughts that keep us from magnifying our divine gifts. Replace those thoughts with affirmations, uplifting scriptures, prayer, inspiring talks, and empowering music. Whatever speaks to your heart through the spirit.
I’m currently compiling a list of songs that counteract specific discouraging thoughts—let me know if you have any recommendations!
2. Seek Help Without Shame
Sometimes, our brains have been trained through trauma to feel and react in a certain way. Healing is not always something we can do on our own. Therapy—whether EMDR, EFT, or another modality—can be a powerful tool for untangling emotional patterns and breaking free from old wounds.
I’d love to write more about the different therapy types I’ve explored or observed—there are so many, and each one speaks to different personalities and situations.
3. Create Something
We are meant to be creators. There is something inherently healing about the creative process—whether it’s making music, painting, writing, or building something with our hands. When was the last time you created something that brought you joy?
4. Connect with God’s Creations
One of my favorite hymns, How Great Thou Art, encourages us to take in the wonders of the world around us. There is so much peace to be found in nature. I’ll share more about this in an upcoming post on “My Favorite Things.”
5. Practice Self-Compassion
My husband recently had a conversation with ChatGPT about ways to help decrease my feelings of discouragement and increase my motivation with self-compassion (sweet, right?). Surprisingly, it suggested some really insightful ideas!
We often mistake self-compassion for selfishness, but in reality, self-compassion is a way to slow down our thoughts and replace negative narratives with truth. We are loved unconditionally by a Heavenly Father who does not place limits, deadlines, or conditions on His love. We are loved simply because of who we are, not because of what we have accomplished or what we will accomplish in the future. This can help us gain a sense of contentment with our circumstances.
6. Seek Meaningful Connection
Find someone who will sit with you in your emotions, offering empathy and understanding. Laughing, making memories, or even just sharing a simple moment with another person can help regulate emotions. While physical touch may be welcome and even necessary for well-being in some, while others with neurodiversity may find it disturbing. Finding ways to connect with neurodiverse individuals may require more communication and investigation with that individual.
7. Journal Your Thoughts
Journaling helps us process emotions, organize our thoughts, and recognize where we might be telling ourselves the wrong stories. Writing has helped me develop greater compassion for myself and, in turn, for others.
8. Prioritize Physical Health
Our mental health is deeply connected to our physical well-being. Sleep, nutrition, and environment all play critical roles in emotional stability. Small changes—especially for highly sensitive individuals—can have a big impact on mental regulation.
Final Thoughts
Slowing down is not easy. But it is necessary.
As we learn to quiet our minds, embrace stillness, and wait upon the Lord, we open ourselves to the peace He so freely offers. And in those still moments, we will find that He has been waiting for us all along.
