On Dimming

Dim (verb): a quiet, personal practice of softening into the present—of turning down the volume of the world and returning to yourself. It is the gentle act of stepping away from urgency, chaos, and exhaustion—not to escape, but to reconnect.

The Practice

To dim is to recognize that you need rest. Real rest. The kind that doesn’t ask you to perform or be productive. It’s an answer to the constant weight of getting through the day, of autopiloting your way from morning to night while barely feeling like yourself.

There’s no perfect method. There’s only the invitation: be still, be kind, and just be.

• Light a candle.
• Dim the lights.
• Play soft music—or sit with the silence.
• Lie down, sit by a window, or curl up in a warm corner.
• Breathe. Watch. Feel.

When to Dim

• When everything feels too loud.
• When you're overwhelmed and don’t have the words to explain why.
• When you’re going through the motions and not sure how long you’ve been doing it.
• When joy feels unreachable and numbness feels familiar.
• When you just need a moment to be okay.

Dimming is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. A small, sacred pause. A reminder that you’re still here.

Belief

To dim is to believe that needing a break doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human. It is choosing slowness in a world that glorifies burnout. It is the radical act of honoring your own needs.

You do not need permission to rest. You do not need to justify your exhaustion. You are allowed to stop. You are allowed to heal.

Dim often. Share gently. Let others know they can dim too.

The Deeper Practice

Dimming is not a form of meditation, though they share a spirit. It’s something quieter. Less about discipline, more about surrender. It’s what happens when you stop trying to hold everything together for just a moment.

If you’ve ever sat in a dark room with soft music playing and felt your shoulders drop, your breath slow, and your mind finally settle—you’ve already dimmed.

When you dim, you’re not fixing anything. You’re simply letting go. Of pressure. Of pretending. Of being everything for everyone.