When I first heard the expression we are human beings not human doings it struck me very deeply and rattled my thinking mind. We are so conditioned to value the “doing” that we forget the importance of “being”.
When we are caught up in everything that needs to get done we are not present and being witness to life as it is unfolding in each moment. Let’s be honest most people are doing something while thinking or worrying about something else. We are taught to worry about the future and we buy into the lie that “keeping busy” is a good thing.
When is the last time you gave yourself permission to do nothing? I know people who feel guilty for sitting down to read a book. The ego/thinking mind convinces them that they are unworthy or wasting time. The curious thing is even then we do nothing we are actually doing something. Resting is something the body needs to function optimally. Meditation may look like we are doing nothing but it is re-training the mind and inviting a deeper listening to our intuitive heart.
I woke up the morning of January 6th excited to get back to work. It was the first day back to school for the kids and in my mind it was a great day to get back into the work routine for me after the holidays. Once the kids were off to school and all my animals were fed I sat down at my computer to work. I sat there feeling completely frustrated because there was no inspiration, in fact, there was only resistance.
I sat in resistance for about 30 minutes trying to force something to happen. I started to feel even more resistance and my lower back began to ache. I finally stopped and tuned into my body and asked “What would you have me do?” The words “rest on the couch and do nothing” came into my awareness. What? This is the first day in 2 weeks I have no one at home and an entire 6 hours to do some work and you want me to do nothing. Yes I was still resisting the guidance.
Resistance is the gap between what the mind thinks and what the heart knows. My heart knew that resting was exactly what I needed but my mind wanted to be “doing” something else. The bigger the gap between my mind and heart the more resistance I felt and the more the discomfort grew. I finally surrendered to the couch pouting like a 2 year old. I was frustrated in my mind but I knew when I followed my heart there were miracles available so I chose to listen to my heart in spite of my resistant mind.
After focusing on my breath for about 10 minutes my mind started to calm down. I made peace with doing nothing in my mind and felt a sense of calm and relaxation wash over me. The words “sometimes doing nothing is everything” started playing like a soft soothing tape in my mind. After almost an hour I felt completely in alignment with my intuitive heart and was guided to get up and check my email.
It turns out I sold 3 instructor training courses and made about $500 while I was doing nothing. The words once again came into my awareness “sometimes doing nothing is everything”. It is more about our state of being than about what we are doing. When I was willing to listen to the whisper in my heart to rest my body my mind was able to come back into alignment and I could receive clear guidance. The rest of my day was easy, flowing and productive.
I am inspired to share my “to Be list” with you. In fact I no longer write “to do lists” but that is a whole other blog post.
10 Things to Add to your “To Be” List:
- Be accepting
- Be curious
- Be loving
- Be kind
- Be fully present
- Be still
- Be open
- Be carefree
- Be authentic
- BE a full expression of YOU
Remember we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Our state of being will determine our experience of this adventure we call life. Give yourself permission to just BE and watch the miracles unfold right before your eyes.
