The Sacred Art of Slowing Down with Anna Christine Seiple

In this episode I talk with Anna Christine "AC" Seiple about slowing down, embodiment, and what it means to listen to our bodies and our parts. 

AC is a licensed counselor and the author of The Sacred Art of Slowing Down. She lives in St. Andrews, Scotland, where she's working on her PhD exploring the intersection of ancient contemplative practices and modern mindfulness. 

She shares why she felt called to write her book, how slowing down was not something she chose at first but something life required of her, and how chronic pain, illness, and unexpected disruptions shaped her relationship with her body. She talks honestly about what it's like to move from living primarily in the head, to slowly rebuilding trust with the body.

Takeaways from this episode:

• why slowing down often happens through life events rather than choice
• how disconnection from the body can begin as a survival strategy
• the role of self compassion and curiosity when parts resist slowing down
• how faith, culture, and early messages can shape our relationship with our bodies
• the importance of establishing safety before forcing embodiment
• how slowing down and embodiment support parts that have been neglected
• what it means to build new "muscle memory" with our nervous systems and parts
• how seasons, light, and cycles mirror internal emotional rhythms

I loved how she normalized how hard this work can be, and how she reminded us that slowing down does not mean changing who we are or stopping our lives. This conversation felt especially timely as the year winds down, a time when slowing down can feel counterintuitive.

We continue part of this conversation in an extended interview for our paid community over on Substack, where we talk more about hope, seasons, and what it looks like to live with greater acceptance of where we are.

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About Anna Christine Seiple

About The One Inside

I started this podcast to help spread IFS out into the world and make the model more accessible to everyone. Seven years later, that's still at the heart of all we do. 

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I co-create The One Inside with Jeff Schrum, a Level 2 IFS practitioner and coach.

Resources

• New to IFS? My book, The One Inside: Thirty Days to Your Authentic Self, is a great place to start.

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