Rooted Like an Apple: Finding Your Core in a Noisy World

Why Your Power to Slow Down is an Act of Rebellion

Jul 08, 2025

Hi, I’m Claudia. I help you face a hurried world with greater confidence in your “Power of Slow.”

You are reading the subsection "SlowPOWER" of the publication "Un-Rush: The Power of Slow," in which I demonstrate the absurdity of rushing and help you realize how slowing down benefits your life and work.

Don’t be shy to share it with fellow rebels against the hurry culture and click the❤️ button, so more people can discover it on Substack. Thank you!

Rooted Like an Apple: Finding Your Core in a Noisy World

Why Your Power to Slow Down is an Act of Rebellion

Last night there was an enormous storm. The trees, rose bushes, apple trees, and grapevines around us were rattled and shaken by the wind. Later, rain was added. This morning, everything looks as if nothing has happened. The tiny, early stage apples are still hanging on the trees and made me think: they seem strongly connected to their core, to the trunk, and made it through the storm.

Each day we get bombarded and shaken up by storms of information, messages and voices telling us who we are and where we should be in our lives. Like the apples having a strong connection to “themselves”, to their core, we have the opportunity to protect our inner peace from the overload of noise trying to influence us, by being aware of ourselves.

When we identify our values and priorities, we create our own definition of the appropriate tempo and resistance against media storms in the most important areas in our life. For this, we need an understanding of what slowing down means to us personally, otherwise we'll be forced to dance to someone else's rhythm.

Do you want to dance to someone else's rhythm?

Inside you exists a power that the modern world desperately tries to suppress—the rebellious capacity to slow down. Your mind and heart hold a sanctuary untouched by artificial urgency, a refuge where clarity emerges not from speed but from stillness.

The world in our daily lives is loud, noisy, intruding, imposing, invading, and interrupting. You have the right and the permission to retreat, pull back, block it off, keep a distance, or build a sound barrier. Like those apples on the tree, and the grapes still hanging on their vines after the storm and keep growing.

Our physical and mental space gets constantly invaded. The most alarming part? We've been gaslit into believing this is normal. That being perpetually accessible, constantly informed, and endlessly productive is simply "how things are now." NORMAL. Really??? This is not normal. We all have to define for ourselves what is normal for us and what not. As a breathing, feeling and thinking human being, I don’t consider this normal.

If you want to engage with the future and be able to master yourself and your life – this is what you need:

You need a bit of distance from the immediate noise and overwhelm.

You want to trust your own thinking and observations given that our daily lives are hectic, and this hecticness shapes our thinking, not only regarding the future, but in general.
You don’t want to be one of those who make decisions while caught up in this hecticness because these people are more likely to make mistakes.
Your goal is to display a certain calmness in order to recognize and observe essential connections in the world and your life.

Here is your anchor: Serenity.

"Serenity is a graceful form of self-confidence." - Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

With serenity, you have the chance to recognize developments at an early stage and to act and intervene accordingly. If you only react hectically and with blinders at breakneck speed to things that are directly in front of your nose or imposed on you, then you'll overlook the decisive and course-setting situations until they're standing before you, flashing brightly. Then you suddenly have to react quickly, carrying out some major transformations that nobody wants and that are too much for everyone.

Slowing down is what helps you become a more observant person. Which then helps you become more self-aware.

Slowing down doesn't mean being slow.

Slowing down means you are ahead of the others because you are far-sighted and prepared for the moment when developments become larger.

Inspirational nudges I compiled for you

Here is a curated list of articles/links on the topic of slowing down and creating your life.

Micro-Greenspaces - How Window-Box Gardens Can Shape a City

Window box gardens can make homes and entire neighborhoods look and feel different. They forge distinct identities with their plant selection and the style and color of the boxes.

Hiking a thousand year old pilgrimage trail in Japan

When considering a spiritual pilgrimage you could look at the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in Japan, the “twin” of Camino de Santiago. One thousand years ago, Imperial pilgrims walked to the Kumano Kodo trail from Kyoto, for the trails were known for being sacred sites of healing and salvation.

Mud, water and wood: The system that kept a 1604-year-old city afloat

Venice is an upside-down forest. Most modern structures are built to last 50 years or so, but ingenious ancient engineering has kept this watery city afloat for more than 1,600 years – using only wood.

Experience sleeping outdoors under canvas

With upscale, safari-inspired accommodations close to US National parks, waking up to the sights, sounds, and smells of nature.

3 Ways to Find Peace in an Anxious World

A singer, a psychologist and an author who struggle with anxiety share strategies that have helped them cope.

Here is the conversation on stage on Youtube
Here is the article in the NYT

INSIGHTS TO REFLECT

Word from Coach George Raveling
Longevity strips you down to the marrow of what matters. And what matters isn’t what you’ve gained, but who you’ve become. How you’ve evolved and transformed. What matters is whether you’ve loved well. Whether you’ve served with a generous spirit. Whether you’ve lived a life of intention—and not merely existence.

What is worth rushing for?