It’s hard to show up like Christ when you’re exhausted.
Our lives move fast. And when you’re tired, it’s easy to try to hold everything together or completely avoid conflict.
This guide is an invitation to slow down. To make space to hear from the Holy Spirit and develop Christlike responses to tension in your everyday life.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Four short chapters on how to slow down when conflict hits
- Simple exercises you can follow to calm your body and mind
- Questions that help you name what you’re feeling and why
- Peaceful prayers to help you reset and refocus in stressful moments
Is this guide for you?
Hurry might be catching up with you if you notice less patience, less capacity to sit with discomfort, and less room for hard conversations.
This guide can help if you’re:
- A pastor trying to maintain trust while facing difficult decisions
- A teacher navigating hard conversations with parents
- A university administrator facing tension in high-stakes leadership spaces
- A parent moving between school, work, and relationships without a moment to reset
Conflict is a normal part of life. But when you learn to slow down, there are hopeful ways to move through it — without burning out or burning bridges. Start slowing down today.
I opened an email with dread — shoulders tense, ready to react and defend, assuming I had something to fight. Then I noticed the 'How to Slow Down' guide on my desk. The email didn’t disappear, but my posture changed. I saw my inner narrative and remembered that these tense moments are daily invitations to practice being like Jesus.
Emily Paterson, UK
More resources to help you slow down
On the Practicing Hope podcast, we’re having honest conversations about conflict, formation, and hope. These episodes are here to support you as you practice slowing down and loving your neighbor. You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
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Aundi Kolber: Politics & Our Bodies
In this episode, author and therapist Aundi Kolbert joins Rev. Michael Gulker, President of The Colossian Forum, for a conversation around embodiment and politics. She compassionately reminds us of what she has always reminded her readers: Until we feel safe in our bodies, we won’t be able to healthily address conflict with others. -
The Art of Slowing Down
In this episode, we explore why slowning down is essential to leaders' spiritual and emotional flourishing. Rev. Dr. Tanner Smith and Pastor Chase Rashad Stancle share practical ways to rest, reflect, and connect more deeply with God.