Slow Down

For the last couple of years, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod staff have been participating in the ELCA Board of Pensions’ (now Portico) GO! Challenge as a way to help ourselves live healthier lives and to encourage others to do the same (and get points for Personal Wellness Dollars as a follow-up to the Health Assessment!).

In 2012, Portico Services rolled out a different kind of wellness challenge – Slow Down: De-clutter your mind…learn to live from abundance and strength. This activity is open to everyone, not just Portico members.

This wellness activity invites you to add a spiritual practice to your life for 28 days. Use it, on your own or with others, to strengthen your ability to live daily as a new creation in Christ. ELCA-primary health plan members: Slow Down can earn you 200 reward points toward wellness dollars. Find a printed version in your 2012 GO! envelope mailed in January.

Skip ahead to get started or lean about joining others in this activity.

Why Learn a Spiritual Practice?

(From Portico. Click here for even more.)

Living well is all about stewarding our gifts for the sake of the world. The Wholeness Wheel reminds us that we are to steward many kinds of gifts – our bodies, emotions, minds, relationships, money, etc. But each of us has only limited time, resources and discipline…and our gifts are many.

How do we manage this seemingly impossible task without driving ourselves crazy? One way is through intentional, daily spiritual practice. By calming our thinking, clarifying our relationship with God, and restoring our sense of self, we reduce the mental clutter in our minds. Less encumbered by fear and anxiety, we’re better able to trust our abilities, accept our limitations, and steward our gifts as we are able.

Get Started:

  • In Thought Copyright juliaf from stock.xchangeRead the Slow Down document for instructions and accompanying information (click here for links from Portico)
  • As added preparation, watch the 8-min. companion video, Working Hard to Live Well? Perhaps Too Hard.
  • When you complete the activity, complete the anonymous survey to answer a few questions about your experience. Your responses will help Portico gauge the effectiveness of this activity.
  • Read about others’ spiritual practices for inspiration. (click on the link then scroll to the bottom of the page)
  • ELCA-primary health plan members, completing the Slow Down activity and taking the accompanying survey will earn you 200 reward points. You need 350 points to earn your 2012 personal wellness account credits (after taking the health assessment). After taking your health assessment, register your activities at www.elcaforwellness.org.

Slow Down with Others:

  • The Southeastern Minnesota Synod staff will be doing the Slow Down challenge during Lent. We will begin Ash Wednesday (February 22) and count each weekday as one of the 28 days, wrapping up on the Friday before Holy Week (March 30).
  • We’ll be taking 15 minutes each weekday, starting at 11:45 a.m. The office phones will be off. We’ll all take our separate time for our spiritual practices, however we each choose to do so. You can do it with us, or any time of day that works for you.
  • Join with us by joining the “Slow Down” event on our Facebook page. You will receive a message every weekday at 11:45 reminding you to take 15 minutes for your spiritual practice. You can share your reflections and read others’ on the event’s wall. Anyone is welcome. You do not need to be a Portico member.
  • Not a Facebook user? Sign up for updates by email. You will receive a message every day. Note that email delivery times are not exact, so you may receive it early or late, but that’s ok! Anyone is welcome. You do not need to be a Portico member.
  • Share your experiences on Portico’s Live Well ELCA Facbeook page or email them to livewell@elcabop.org.

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