Lydia Felty

“The things that once lit me up - writing, laughter, movement - were dimmed by the constant pressure to do more and be more. I had stopped reaching for joy.”

“Somewhere along the way, my questions changed. It was no longer “What’s next?” and "How much can I do?" Instead, I focused on "What matters?" and “How well can I live?” I stopped chasing money with urgency and started asking if the work was kind to my energy. I started measuring success by how I felt at the end of the week, not how many things I achieved.”

“Slowing down, I’ve learned, is not a one-time decision. It’s a practice. A thousand small choices. Saying no to the third plan of the day. Choosing a walk over a scroll. Letting your tea get cold because you got lost in a thought. Getting drenched in the rain because you chose to stay back and stare at the beautiful scenery around you. I know now that this takes courage. That being gentle requires a lot of muscle. That healing is not always a visible glow-up and you have to be okay with being the only one who celebrates.

Slowness is not glamorous. No one claps for stillness. No one hands out medals for saying, “Actually, I’d like a little less right now.” The world does not reward softness. It rarely understands it. But I am glad I do.”

“The act of simply being is not idleness. It’s a full-bodied presence that resists commodification. This world isn’t built to nurture slowness. It equates productivity with worth and visibility with value. But I am no longer interested in being seen more than I am in being whole.

In a world that worships speed, choosing to go slow is a kind of poetry.

And I hope we learn to survive.”

Dissonance loop: Desire>flawed action>friction>frustration>

• I also think burnout is somewhere in here, or like, the longer you’re in the loop, the more tired you get & that’s where burnout comes from.

Getting unstuck:

1. Aimless rest: get bored, no activities with goals, few screens

2. Organization as intention: However it works best, outline goals & projects for everything

3. Make or move your environment to suit your needs, remove friction, & make it as easy as possible to follow through (eg pack gym bag the night before

4. Release the feelings of shame & know this is going to be hard!