The Dr. Laura Podcast – “The Power of Slowing Down”

Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger (with insights from Carolyn Sharp, LCSW)
Theme: The benefits, techniques, and transformative power of slowing down in daily interactions and relationships.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Laura explores the critical yet often overlooked concept of “slowing down”—especially when communicating with those we love. Drawing from an article by licensed clinical social worker Carolyn Sharp, Dr. Laura examines why a slower, more intentional pace can foster connection, trust, and understanding, and offers actionable advice to implement this practice in everyday life. The focus is on mindful listening, reducing knee-jerk emotional reactions, and creating environments conducive to meaningful relationships.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Slowing Down Matters in Relationships

• Slowing down helps us truly listen.
  • "We slow down. We listen to what our friend, spouse is saying. Listening without a knee jerk, getting defensive before they even finish their sentence." (Carolyn Sharp, 02:17)
• Creating a pause in conversations allows for:
  • Calming the nervous system when upset
  • Avoiding escalation of arguments and misunderstandings
• Handling Stress Constructively
  • "It enables you to handle the stress constructively. Again, avoiding knee jerk reactions that can escalate to terrible arguments and sadly, unnecessary misunderstandings." (Carolyn Sharp, 03:19)

2. The Psychological and Relational Impact

• Staying Open and Curious
  • "We're still curious. We're still open. We're still giving ourselves the chance to understand his or her perspective more fully." (Dr. Laura, 03:47)
• Building Trust through Mindful Presence
  • "When we slow down, it's a message to the other person that builds trust. There's not going to be a slap. There’s going to be a listening." (Carolyn Sharp, 03:59)
• Signaling Emotional Safety
  • Slowing down communicates, even nonverbally, that the other person is heard and valued.

3. Actionable Techniques for Slowing Down

• Pause Before Responding
  • "Pause before you respond, slow the whole thing down, listen to it all out, and then start thinking of what's a reasonable, kind, loving response." (Carolyn Sharp, 04:12)
• Active Listening
  • Avoid distractions (phones, TV)
  • Maintain eye contact; focus fully on the speaker.
  • "When your dearly beloved is speaking, shut the hell up and give them full attention. Don't be looking at your phone, the TV over their shoulder, down at your feet. Eye contact, pay attention, shut up and listen." (Carolyn Sharp, 04:31)
• Paraphrasing and Reflecting
  • "One of the useful things at this point, which is another slowing down mechanism, is to say, 'Do I understand you that the door has to be painted purple or you're going to be upset? Did I understand that correctly?'" (Carolyn Sharp, 07:40)
    • This example, while intentionally silly, demonstrates how reflecting the other person's words can ensure correct understanding and prevent miscommunication.

4. Practical Rituals for Calm and Connection

• Household Practices to Foster Calm:
  • Shared prayer
  • Five minutes of Bible reading
  • Doing yoga together
  • Five minutes of silent deep breathing
  • "Why? It fosters a calm which benefits you both." (Carolyn Sharp, 08:24)
  • "It connects you." (Dr. Laura, 08:48)
    • These simple shared activities reinforce a sense of safety, trust, and happiness in relationships.

5. Realism and Encouragement

• Admitting Difficulty
  • "Slowing down is not easy... Very, very difficult. But the benefits are amazing." (Carolyn Sharp & Dr. Laura, 09:03-09:06)
    • Dr. Laura and Carolyn both acknowledge that adopting these habits takes effort, but the rewards are substantial.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Listening Without Reactivity:
  • “Slow it down. Hear them out.” — Carolyn Sharp (02:17)
• On Avoiding Emotional Overreaction:
  • “A lot of times we get emotional when we're not slowing down and we think we know what they mean. Ask.” — Dr. Laura (08:14)
• On Building Trust:
  • “When we slow down, it's a message to the other person that builds trust. There's not going to be a slap. There’s going to be a listening.” — Carolyn Sharp (03:59)
• Dr. Laura’s Straight Talk on Attention:
  • “When your dearly beloved is speaking, shut the hell up and give them full attention.” — Carolyn Sharp, echoed by Dr. Laura (04:31)
• On Real Life Practice:
  • “Not easy. Very, very difficult. But the benefits are amazing.” — Carolyn Sharp & Dr. Laura (09:03-09:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] – The introduction of Carolyn Sharp's article and the main topic
• [02:17–03:59] – Discussion on benefits of slowing down in interactions
• [04:12] – Specific techniques: pausing, full attention, no distractions
• [07:40] – Example of reflective listening (“Did I understand...?”)
• [08:24–08:51] – Rituals for calm: prayer, reading, yoga, deep breathing
• [09:03–09:06] – Acknowledgment of difficulty but affirming benefits

Tone and Language

• Direct, compassionate, and practical—Dr. Laura’s signature blend of “tough love” with actionable advice.
• Uses humor (e.g., “paint the door purple”), real-world examples, and plainspoken encouragement.

Takeaway

Slowing down is both challenging and profoundly rewarding, especially in navigating emotional or stressful interactions. By intentionally pausing, fully listening, and practicing reflective understanding, we can foster trust, reduce misunderstandings, and enrich all of our relationships.

For more resources or to connect with Dr. Laura, visit DrLaura.com or call 1-800-375-2872.