Moving more slowly
Have you ever noticed how truly confident people move? I hadn't given it much thought until I recently heard a body language expert say that his top recommendation was to move more slowly. Moving slowly conveys confidence, meaningful interaction, and creates a calming effect.
My grandfather was an expert at this quality. He moved through life with thoughtful intention, and his words carried the same deliberate calm. This wasn't just a symptom of his age—he remained active well into his 90s. He developed this skill through practice. He was an avid gardener who loved tending to his rows of flowers, vegetables, and fruits. He also practiced slow, mindful activities such as fishing from his jon boat, taking a joyride around the farm in the tractor, and sipping his Folgers coffee from the front porch gazing out at the lake. He was my role model for living in the present moment.
I've always had a bias toward action— a natural "let's go" energy. It's not that I'm fidgety or erratic in my body language, but rather an always on mental state that can create feelings of anxiousness. This simple shift of moving more slowly felt like a way to cultivate mental calm rather than just reacting to the world around me.
What resonates with me most about moving more slowly is the enhanced presence that comes from a deliberate and grounded engagement with the world. It creates a greater sense of connection, drawing your awareness away from the hyperactive mind and back to the task in front of you.
In a world that is all about speeding up, I'm working on moving more slowly—not just for the perception of confidence, but for the deeper presence and peace it brings.