Path no.

Slowing down

It's OK to Slow Down

Donate

Loading David’s radio voice...

↓ Skip to

Key Insights Practice Reflection Reminder Go deeper Community

Key insights

Key insight

Even seemingly mundane moments in our day offer us wonderful opportunities to practice mindfulness.

Key insight

Akin to a mirror, mindfulness allows us to observe what a moment is showing us and to welcome whatever feelings and thoughts may arise.

Key insight

Mindfulness lets us slow down and pay attention in a gentle way while returning to our breath.

Practice

The Mirror

Fun fact: During the 1980s, David had trained at the prestigious Vidal Sassoon Academy in London. As a hairstylist, David faced a mirror every day with his clients, but he noticed that when clients sat facing toward the mirror, they often said disparaging things about themselves. Self-compassion and love, David poignantly observed, seemed difficult to hold for so many of us.

For today’s practice, let us carry over this idea of intention and consider how slowing down helps us have a simpler and less stressful day.

For 2-3 breaths, try slowing down by feeling the sensation of breathing in your body. Let go of your expectations for the day. If you can, try this a few times today.

The mirror practice may seem simple, but we consider it pretty advanced and one you may find surprisingly challenging. Be gentle with yourself, slow down, and give yourself this moment of self-acceptance and love.

Reflections

Think back to the last 24 hours. How mindfully did you navigate them?

In what ways are you adding unnecessary complexity in your life?

How could you add more delight and simplicity to it?

Reminder

“It hurts to argue with the mirror.”

David said: “We’re not practicing mindfulness to be more spiritual; we’re practicing because it hurts. It hurts to argue with the mirror.” What comes up for you when you read that?

Print out or download a sticky note of this reminder and place it somewhere you can look at regularly.

Community

Come practice with us

Monthly mindfulness workshops
Every month, David hosts a mindfulness meditation workshop on Nectara. Join the next one and come deepen your mindfulness practice.

Book a session with David

Get direct support from David—a mindfulness teacher with 20+ years of experience—and gain additional support and clarity about what truly matters to you. Book a complimentary call with him on Nectara.

Walk your journey with us

Are you looking for a safe and intimate community space to share your healing story, deepen your practice, and connect with others? Join Nectara’s Circle, our psychedelic wellness support community.

Mindful extras

For a deeper dive

If you’re wanting to take a deeper dive with David about mindfulness, check out these curated resources he’s created or selected for you:

Some additional, fun ways to slow down your day:

The Slowdown podcast, episode 13: “What the Memories Said”
‍Akin to mindfulness, poetry offers us a way to slow things down and pay attention to each moment as they come.

“The Haircut”
‍See David traveling around and offering people free haircuts.

We’ll see you tomorrow as we learn how to show up for ourselves and others through mindful listening!

Support our work

Thank you

We are making this resource accessible to more folks with a pay what you can model. Did you find this part of the journey useful to you? Consider donating to David and Nectara for our time and energy so that we can create more resources for the psychedelic community.

Part of the proceeds will go to a lineage and organization David has learned and practiced meditation with for 20 years:
Paramahansa Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship

Donate

Every day is a ceremony

Nectara

About

Contact

Principles

Become a guide

For Journeyers

Find a retreat

Membership

Find a guide

Courses

Podcast

Events

Learn

For Facilitators

Client Care

Mentorship

Ethics Training

For Retreats

Partnership

We recognize that some of our work is based on the unceded lands of Indigenous peoples. We are grateful to be hosted on their territories. We acknowledge that the work of reconciliation with Indigenous Nations has a long road ahead and we are commited to doing our part in contributing to meaningful change, action, and personal growth.

The services provided by Nectara are intended to be for harm reduction purposes only. They are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nectara guides are not licensed healthcare providers and do not provide medical care or psychotherapy services. By engaging in the services provided by Nectara guides, you expressly acknowledge and agree that the services are provided on an as-is and as-available basis, and that your use of or reliance upon the services and any content or material contained therein is at your sole risk and discretion. Nectara guides and the legal entity shall not be held responsible or liable for any harm, legal claims, or illegal activity arising out of your use of the services or reliance upon any content or material contained therein.

Due to legal reasons, we do not accept any clients or business from people based in Indonesia.

Terms and Conditions

Submit feedback

Accountabilty