Fast Company: Back in the day, philosophers weren’t just deep thinkers—they were the ones shaping society, questioning the status quo, and pushing humanity forward. They didn’t just sit around pondering big ideas; they were the architects of real change.
Fast forward to today, and while we celebrate speed, innovation, and getting things done, we often forget to pause and ask the bigger questions: Why? What if?
4 comments:
The idea of slowing down is something I have become very aware of recently. My awareness is not exactly the same as discussed in the article. Lately I have been trying to slow down my movement during the day. I find myself moving very quickly without realizing. Rushing to wash my hair or walking quickly when I am not even late are two simple examples. I read a study that we as a society have a habit of doing this and it is harming our nervous system. When I do something as simple as slowing down the pace at which I wash my hair in the shower I am telling my nervous system that I am safe and calm. And it has been making a HUGE difference to me. I think the article touches on the exact same idea and it is a good reminder for our industry. We have very specific deadlines and little time to do it. So it feels like the best and only way to do it is as quickly as possible. I like that this article points out that it might not be the best or most productive strategy.
It is in our culture to work to the bone. Slowing down is good for us, even just for mental health. I think society tries to move way faster than it needs to, especially in the professional world. I find that slowing down and taking a second to reflect has really made me appreciate a lot more of my life. I especially get caught up in wanting to move “quickly” in school. I take on too much at once and have to remind myself it’s okay to not be doing everything and that some things can wait. I don’t need to take that class right now, and just because I can doesn’t mean I should. My philosophy is that it is much more important to do well in less things, than to do okay in more things. I want to get the most out of my education. I think this applies to all areas of life as well. In the world of theater that moves really quickly both short term, during shows and productions, and long term, slowing down and double checking things, and just taking a second to breathe –and your calmness will put others at ease as well– is important.
Especially when the to-do list is long, it’s very easy to get caught up in how much we need to accomplish, and trying to rain through all of our tasks by the end of the day. In that, it is very easy to lose the meaning of why we are doing the things we are doing. Why are we reading this book for class or what are we learning from this homework we were assigned? Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed or frustrated it really helps to step back and look at the things I have to do and remember why I have to do each one. It helps me to appreciate the value it’s adding to my life, rather than just existing as an item on my list. It also helps me to reminder that I’m doing these things because I love them, and to be grateful for my education. Changing perspective and giving yourself an attitude check can be really beneficial and help you to change the way you are perceiving and receiving things.
I wholeheartedly agree with the statement made by this article. I think there a significant loss of reflection in our world today and a lot of people could benefit from slowing down and looking at the whole picture and how they fit into that context. I like that the article gives the reader different ways to begin questioning their world view and context of life so that they might benefit from solid self reflection. With so much stimulus from social media, news, and other forms of content, I think it can be easy to get lost in today’s digital world. For me, I can often find myself not paying attention what I am reading or looking at and not giving much of what I consume daily much thought. I think this kind of thinking is important to our own worlds as well as our craft. By reflecting on something and letting it fully digest in our minds, we can look at it with fresh perspective and have new ideas that can bring our work to an even better level.
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