In a Fast-paced world, Time to Slowdown

In this generation of fast living, the fastest way of doing anything is appreciated.

The world we are living in is where nearly everything is “instant”-an instant message, an instant delivery, instant gratification.

From fast food, to express shipping, and all the way to quickened access to almost anything within our reach, everything speaks of the world that seeks to move at lightning-fast speed for efficiency and easy access. However, all this has made the lives of most people a fast pace.

In our hurry to get more, do more, and experience more in fewer years, we have given up these important characteristics of patience, serenity, and the ability to wait and reflect.

“This phenomenon has directly affected health”.

While statistics reveal a gain in the number of years an individual lives, quality of health is usually lost.

Chronic diseases start to show up at a much younger age than before, among them stress-related illnesses, hypertension, and diabetes.

These are not only physical conditions but also mental. Our minds have grown to expect constant connectedness and being “on” at all times, and this comes with grave consequences to our wellness.

The truly healthy life calls for a relaxed, composed attitude to life in which slowing down is a purposeful act of self-love.

The Age of Instant Gratification

Since childhood, people have been taught to “have it now.” The youth are raised in the world of dreams where all those desires are met at once with satisfaction. This impact influences the way expectations and gratification are dealt with. The result is an erosion of patience as well as being unable to cope with frustration in waiting. Instant gratification has metamorphosed the manner in which we behave and live.

Researches indicate that people are today more impulsive than ever, making rash decisions allowing for pleasure now and refusing benefits in the longer run.

This is not without its impact on mental health-anxiety and restlessness characterize it.

A case in point with my son Vedhaa. Like most children, he is very demanding when he wants something, like a set of drums. When we did not purchase it right away and decided to postpone the purchase, something incredible happened. He initially expressed disappointment and frustration but eventually accepted the delay. As he got used to the idea, his soothingness increased, his demands now decreased, and he started imagining and looking for increasingly. He began fantasizing himself with the drums, rehearsing in his mind, and this process kept him contented and patient too. This experience taught him-and reminded me-of an important lesson of delayed gratification. It was a lesson in learning to wait, a skill so very essential yet underdeveloped in today’s instant world.

Health Implications of a Rapid-Paced Life

The trend toward immediacy, in particular, troubles the health realm.

We tend to believe that modern medicine has brought improvement to health, overlooking the reality that many young people experience health-related challenges that once were reserved for much older adults.

Conditions such as chronic fatigue, hypertension, and mental health disorders are prevalent, often aggravated by the stresses of a fast-paced life.
For example, lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and diabetes are an evident rising trend. Most of the diseases are as a result of stress and poor lifestyle choices, mostly accelerated by the fast life of modern society.

Many people will prefer fast, processed foods in place of a healthy meal and will find excuses to not exercise as they feel busy. However paradoxically, whilst technology has given the tools to live longer to its human endowments, it has also instigated pressures that lead to poorer quality of life.

The Importance of Patience and Calmness

The tragedy of this fast life has to be balanced with rediscovering the virtues of patience and calmness. Having patience helps us make thoughtful decisions rather than hasty ones; it teaches introspection and also moderation.

This concept of calmness is not really about being inactive or inoperative. It’s not that you should avoid ambitious endeavors or activities; this just calls for a handling approach in these pursuits.

Calmness brings one into focus, so rather than following temporary thrills and instant gratification, they find what really matters in life.

When this sense of calmness prevails, one can also take on the stresses in life in a more balanced point of view, even within the chaos of the circumstances.

These are things we should teach the next generation in this world where distractions abound, and speed seems to be imperative.

Teach children how to wait, appreciate moments of silence, and deal with life’s inevitable delays and disappointments.

Simple practices are helpful in infusing the child with peacefulness and patience. Perhaps some kind of focus-demanding activities, such as reading, drawing, or building something with their hands, could help them have a sense of calm and concentration.

Simple actions, like waiting for a purchase to be delivered or having a goal that takes time to be reached, teach a child to be patient.

Calm space is also essential. A clutter-free space at home, free from electronic stimulation, where kids can reflect, quietly play, or just sit will be awesome. In doing so, they’ll begin to cultivate an inner calm amidst the frenzy of life on the outside.

Take Away

While running within the fast pace of life, we must remind ourselves and our children that true pleasure from life is achieved by something gained or created with time.

A quiet mind and composed patience is not just a good trait but a talent because one can experience and explore every moment of his or her life.

This allows him or her to feel alive by slowing down enough to breathe, think, and connect with his surroundings.

For true well-being, we need to approach life with a more composed attitude. Calmness allows us to make thought-provoking decisions, form meaningful relationships, and have a balanced perspective. Let’s learn the art of waiting, the joy of anticipation, and the power of calmness — for ourselves, for our children, and for a future where health and happiness can flourish even in a fast-paced world.

-Penned as ‘LLL’