Editor’s Note (2025)
This post was first written in 2012, at a time when I was exploring the balance between ambition and ease. My perspective has deepened since then, but I’ve chosen to keep this piece here as part of my journey. May it remind you, as it reminds me, that slowing down is not failure—it’s often the most radical act of trust.
***
Think less.
Complain less.
Push less.
Create more.
The universe responds to your diligence—
but it also responds to your joy.
Consider when it’s time to pull back.
Not, by the way, to be confused with letting go.
“Easing up” is simply taking your foot off the gas. Just a tad.
It’s 45 miles an hour instead of 60. A 5K run instead of a 10K.
Recognize when it’s time to loosen up and when it’s time to go harder.
Notice that voice that says: “I don’t want to work so much today.”
“I need simplicity + quiet.”
“I need to hit the snooze button.”
At some point, the relentless pushing will need to stop—
or at least be put on pause.
Because there will always, always be more work to do.
And that won’t change.
Consider slowing down and letting progress + contentment come to you.
We think the world spins on its axis because of our own aggressive participation.
But what if we stopped participating so fiercely?
We think if we slow down, progress will come to a halt.
But have you tried?
Observe what happens. Contrary to popular belief, pulling back doesn’t mean going without.
Slowing down the machine that is you doesn’t mean expecting less in return.
Traffic doesn’t screech to a halt.
Planes don’t fall from the sky.
You don’t gain seven pounds.
Your business still hums.
And your people are happy to wait an extra 24 hours to connect.
In fact, easing up may usher in the next wave of genius, spark, ah-ha’s, and deep breaths that preempt innovation.
And it just feels good to take a break once in a while.
Ease up on yourself, but don’t minimize your dreams.
The cosmos has your back. We all do.
The brilliance of easing up is this: slowing down creates more, not less. When we pause—just enough to breathe, to listen, to let life catch up—we find clarity, creativity, and even momentum waiting for us. We’ve been taught to hustle endlessly, but often the most powerful move is to ease up and let the universe meet us halfway.
Slightly simpler, smoother.
Dr. Dowling has spent years helping people live richer, more joyful lives. She has seen firsthand the magical pairing of psychology and life coaching, which allows people to access their happiest selves.
View Dr. Dowling's articles on Mindbodygreen
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