I found that rushing was robing me form the effectiveness and the joy of things. Particularly, writing sometimes felt like a race thinking about the finish line.
Also drinking coffee. I do it slow and get more joy from it.
Taking time is important with ideas too. For them to make a groove in us requires several passes and the adequate slow pace for the "ink to dry" in the mind.
I like how you’ve frames this discussion! I completely agree that there is another level to “habits” that most people miss, and I like the concept of ritualizing behaviour more intentionally.
I have been thinking about this a lot and have tried to identify natural habit stacks of creativity, actions that bundle in order to improve my enjoyment and output. I think I would consider these stacks as rituals, so thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this essay with me! It was a great read and I'm sure my readers will find it of interest too. I particularly enjoyed this quote: "Many Americans use the word “ritual” (incorrectly) to point to personal routines or habits. We desecrate the very word that marks the physical perception of the sacred by mis-using it."
I do think rituals are a great was to think about it. Habits are something that form intentionally or not through repetition. Rituals invoke a sense of intention and dutifulness.
That's a key element of Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. You aren't just going slow, you are intentionally and dutifully focusing to make it smooth.
That's exactly it Michael - thank you for writing your "Slow is smooth smooth is fast" essay - after reading it I literally have the mantra stuck on my wall in big writing!
I saw this quote the other day from Kent Nerburn which really struck me: 'Ritual is routine infused with mindfulness. It is a habit made holy.'
I find it interesting too how taking a good yoga class for example feels very different from just doing some stretching, strengthening and breathing exercises.
I have actually been thinking a great deal recently about how slowness doesn't come naturally to me (I talk very fast in particular!) and have been trying to actually enjoy and savour slowness rather than be scared of it. I suspect rushing is a form of anxiety in some sort of way, even if it doesn't feel like what I would usually label as anxiety.
Wow that is such a powerful quote - thank you for sharing! Yoga/stretching analogy is apt.
That's a really interesting point - and I've realised a very similar thing about myself - not so much talking too fast, but thinking too fast. Part of that realisation is what prompted me to start writing as a way to force my thoughts to slow and crystallise a bit. Interesting perspective of connecting anxiety to rushing - there is a perspective that anxiety drives a bias to action so I can see that being true both ways.
Thank you for your piece.
I found that rushing was robing me form the effectiveness and the joy of things. Particularly, writing sometimes felt like a race thinking about the finish line.
Also drinking coffee. I do it slow and get more joy from it.
Taking time is important with ideas too. For them to make a groove in us requires several passes and the adequate slow pace for the "ink to dry" in the mind.
Just things to think about.
Thanks Alejandro 🙏
I like this idea of ritualization, especially how you apply it to different situations!
Thanks chris! Glad it resonated with you.
I like how you’ve frames this discussion! I completely agree that there is another level to “habits” that most people miss, and I like the concept of ritualizing behaviour more intentionally.
I have been thinking about this a lot and have tried to identify natural habit stacks of creativity, actions that bundle in order to improve my enjoyment and output. I think I would consider these stacks as rituals, so thanks for sharing!
Hey Callum - yes it's interesting to see the parallels between your habit stacks and ritualisation. Glad you enjoyed the post!
THis is a really important distinction to make in America, where we our so individualistic, we conflate habit with ritual all the time. I removed the paywall on my essay on ritual from last year, in case it is of interest to your readers. https://open.substack.com/pub/jamesrichardson/p/the-death-of-ritual?r=1mec6y&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for sharing this essay with me! It was a great read and I'm sure my readers will find it of interest too. I particularly enjoyed this quote: "Many Americans use the word “ritual” (incorrectly) to point to personal routines or habits. We desecrate the very word that marks the physical perception of the sacred by mis-using it."
I do think rituals are a great was to think about it. Habits are something that form intentionally or not through repetition. Rituals invoke a sense of intention and dutifulness.
That's a key element of Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. You aren't just going slow, you are intentionally and dutifully focusing to make it smooth.
That's exactly it Michael - thank you for writing your "Slow is smooth smooth is fast" essay - after reading it I literally have the mantra stuck on my wall in big writing!
That's fantastic! I'm enjoying your work too.
I saw this quote the other day from Kent Nerburn which really struck me: 'Ritual is routine infused with mindfulness. It is a habit made holy.'
I find it interesting too how taking a good yoga class for example feels very different from just doing some stretching, strengthening and breathing exercises.
I have actually been thinking a great deal recently about how slowness doesn't come naturally to me (I talk very fast in particular!) and have been trying to actually enjoy and savour slowness rather than be scared of it. I suspect rushing is a form of anxiety in some sort of way, even if it doesn't feel like what I would usually label as anxiety.
Wow that is such a powerful quote - thank you for sharing! Yoga/stretching analogy is apt.
That's a really interesting point - and I've realised a very similar thing about myself - not so much talking too fast, but thinking too fast. Part of that realisation is what prompted me to start writing as a way to force my thoughts to slow and crystallise a bit. Interesting perspective of connecting anxiety to rushing - there is a perspective that anxiety drives a bias to action so I can see that being true both ways.