Embrace the Rhythm of Nature
Lately, I find that I’m more inclined to linger in bed each morning–my body and being craves moving at a slower pace, and I’ve learned to welcome that.
As the child of immigrants, I’ve inherited a work ethic that for years had me moving at light speed. It’s been over 20 years since I first embraced the Art of Mindful Living. These teachings have been ripening inside and now in my forties I’m basking in the deliciousness of a more slow brewed life. The change of seasons is a beautiful opportunity to take this practice deeper.
Cultural anthropologist, Angeles Arrien, invites us to reflect on how we can embrace nature’s rhythm in our own lives and nature’s rhythm is medium to slow. Medium to slow.
As the seasons change, I experimenting with moving medium to slow whenever I can. How does moving medium to slow look, sound and feel in your life? How can slowing your pace nourish and support you at this time? For me, medium to slow evokes an experience of gentleness, wonder, receptivity and grace.
Throughout the day, explore taking deep, slow breaths and say to yourself, “medium to slow…medium to slow” as a warm invitation to follow nature’s rhythm. Just be curious and see where this takes you…what do you notice?
Author Bio: Meena Srinivasan is a contemplative leader, celebrated speaker, accomplished author, and visionary edupreneur. She is an educator-activist at heart, consistently championing the fusion of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Belonging. Meena was featured as one of 2022’s 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in Mindful Magazine and is the Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL)™ an organization that supports educational leaders in building more compassionate and just schools. A former public school administrator and National Board Certified Teacher, Meena is the creative force behind the SEL Every Day Online Courses, an instructor of graduate level Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) courses at UC Berkeley and the CEO of Karuna Consulting, LLC, an organization that takes its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Karuna,’ signifying compassion. Karuna Consulting is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) driven by a profound mission: to foster a more compassionate world through Meena’s keynotes, professional learning, coaching, and consulting services. She is the author of numerous publications including Teach, Breathe, Learn and SEL Every Day. The latter was honored as one of 2019’s Favorite Books for Educators by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Her TEDx talk on Tenderness is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2024 (with over 2 million views). Meena has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 25 years, is an ordained Zen Buddhist and serves on the Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Learn more at meenasrinivasan.com.
