“Don’t hurry, because what you’re looking for is also looking for you.” – Rumi
In today’s world, where speed is often equated with efficiency, many people have forgotten what it means to really come to rest. But as a holistic therapist, osteopath, yoga teacher and movement coach, I have experienced time and again in my many years of working with people that true healing is only possible in a state of relaxation.
Our body is an intelligent system that has two main control centers: the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight mode) and the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest mode). While the sympathetic nervous system helps us to react in stressful moments, it is the parasympathetic nervous system that allows us to regenerate – this is where healing, self-regulation and deep renewal take place.
But what happens when we live permanently in stress mode? Our body remains on chronic alert. This not only leads to physical tension, digestive disorders or sleep problems, but also to emotional exhaustion, anxiety and a feeling of alienation from ourselves.
“Only when you slow down can you hear the whisper of your body.”
This is where slowing down comes into play: it is more than just a break. It is a deep reset – a return to a state in which your body can regenerate, your mind can think clearly and your soul can breathe deeply again.

From re-action to creation: true freedom lies in conscious action
Have you asked yourself today whether you have really lived – or whether you have simply functioned?
Many people rush through their day and only react to external circumstances:
✉️ The emails in your inbox that need to be answered immediately.
📞 The calls that don’t allow a break.
🙍♂️ The expectations of others that you have to live up to.
🔔 The social media notifications that keep pulling you away from your own center.
If your day has largely consisted of re-action, then this blog article could be a gentle wake-up call. Because true freedom only begins when you stop just re-acting – and start to consciously act and create.
For this you need capacity. Space within you. A free, clear mind that is not constantly under pressure, but acts from a deep inner calm.
Deceleration gives you exactly that:
✅ More room for creativity – instead of constantly working on things, there is energy for real inspiration.
✅ More inner clarity – you recognize what is really important.
✅ More conscious decisions – instead of impulsive reactions, you act with intention.
✅ More serenity – stress affects you less because you are more centered.
“What you are looking for is already inside you – but you have to become quiet enough to hear it.” – Shams-e Tabrizi

The practice: breathing and drawing meditation for more serenity
This exercise combines conscious breathing with creative expression – two essential ways to calm the nervous system and enter a meditative state. It is an invitation to step out of the hamster wheel of everyday life and connect with your inner rhythm.
Instructions for the deceleration exercise:
🌱 Create a peaceful environment.
Tidy up your space, create clarity. Minimalism on the outside brings peace to the inside.
🧎🏻 Sit comfortably on the floor or at a table.
Your body should feel comfortable – without tension or force
🧘🏻 Close your eyes and breathe in and out deeply.
Breathe in deeply through your nose 10 times (5 seconds) – enjoy the silence after inhaling.
Breathe out slowly through your mouth or nose (6 seconds).
✍ Draw a minimalist face.
Put your inner feeling on paper. What expression does the face have? Be honest with yourself.
〰 Draw 20-30 vertical strokes.
With each exhalation, draw a stroke – always more slowly, with full presence.
✍️🚫 Put the pen down, close your eyes and take 5 intuitive breaths.
Feel it.
✍ Draw a second face.
How has your expression changed? What emotion is showing now?
Why this practice is so powerful
This exercise immediately takes you out of stress mode and gives you a state of inner calm and clarity. By consciously slowing down, healing happens on a deep level – your nervous system regulates itself, your emotions sort themselves out, your mind becomes clearer.
If you practise this exercise for 21 days, you will feel how your everyday life becomes lighter, more peaceful and more conscious. You will deal with challenges more calmly and find more joy in the small moments of life.
“The soul heals not through haste, but through stillness.” – Rumi

A call for change
I believe that slowing down is a practice that everyone should cultivate. In my vision of the future, every household has simple rituals that help to regulate the nervous system – just like we brush our teeth every day.
If you would like to dive deeper, I would be happy to accompany you in a guided session or workshop. Write to me at sohrab@papahn.de – and let’s discover the power of slowness together.
“Life is not a destination, but a dance. Take time to hear the melody.” – Alan Watts
