Maybe we should slow down

If you remember basic chemistry, an atom consists of a nucleus with electrons orbiting it. Electrical engineers are primarily interested in the electrons because their physical and chemical interactions with other materials produce electrical energy which is undoubtedly the very bedrock of modern life. Nuclear engineers, on the other hand, care more about the nuclide, the core made up of protons and neutrons.

Not to bore you with the details, but there is an interesting phenomenon that happens in the nucleus of a special nuclide—Uranium-235—called fission. When a neutron bombards this particular nuclide, it splits and produces more neutrons that then bombard another U-235 nuclide, and so on. This is called a chain reaction, and it’s the best thing a nuclear engineer could ever wish for.

But here’s the unexpected point: for this chain reaction to occur, the neutrons must bombard the nuclide at a thermal energy lower than the energy at which they were released. In layman's terms, the neutrons need to be slowed down before a fission reaction occurs.

The process is called moderation, and when I read about it, I realized it was the perfect l metaphor for my everyday life.

Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash

For years, I’ve worked fast, constantly thinking I needed maximum agency to get things done, often breaking things in the process. But what if, like the fissionable neutron, the real way to create a powerful, sustained reaction is to slow down?

I'm starting to approach my work and life with intentionality. I spend time with the thing, falling in love not just with the idea of the outcome, but with the entire process. Trust me, adopting this slower pace is infinitely more enjoyable and ultimately more rewarding than simply chasing "productivity." It turns out, sometimes you need to slow down to unleash your real power.