Being Versus Doing
As I was getting ready to write this post, one of my cats insisted that I hold and pet her while she purred loudly in my ear. For maybe half a second, I thought about moving her off my lap and getting back to work.
I didn’t move her because I realized just how silly that would have been. While it's important to me that I get two blog posts out each week, it’s equally important that I’m present in my life and don’t lose sight of what really matters while trying to accomplish things.
My cat is snuggled up on me and I’m using talk to text to take a note right now so that I can both “write” my blog and thoroughly enjoy my purring cat.
Sometimes we do have to get things done and if there’s a way to find balance between being and doing, that’s fantastic. My work is happening more slowly right now, but it’s completely worth it given how happy my cat is and how joyful she’s making me while I’m still being productive.
Sometimes you have to “move your cat” and just get your job done. Other times however, it’s not so simple or clear, and it might be worth taking a few seconds to determine what really is in your best interest before moving forward.
For example, you could ask yourself if a 15 minute walk outside on a crisp fall day while looking at the beauty that surrounds you would be better for you during your lunch break (and possibly make your afternoon more productive), than simply eating lunch and “doing” more once you’re done with lunch.
We spend so much of our time trying to get things done that we sometimes forget how to just be present in our lives.
Enlightenment is often talked about as a process of simply being mindful in whatever activity you are engaged in. It’s not a destination that you achieve at some future points in your life.
It’s about enjoying, accepting and being in your life now regardless of the activity you’re engaged in. We may not like everything we have to do any given day, but our attitude towards those activities make them more or less enjoyable.
Being and doing are very often two different things, but when we’re present while doing, we combine them in a way that allows our life to be easier and more enjoyable.
On a final note, it’s also important to remember that we need to respect our bodies and our mind’s need for cycles of rest and productivity.
If we only rest, we never get anything done and life quickly becomes somewhat boring. If we’re always productive however, we can become overwhelmed and burnt out, thereby losing our abilities to be effective at whatever task we’re engaged in.
Balance in all things is the key. If you have pets, follow their lead. They have a lot to teach us!
Action Steps:
Think about how much time you spend Doing versus Being in an average day.
Do you know how to stop and simply BE in the moment? Some of us don’t and that’s OK. Take a few deep breaths in (4 seconds) and out (4 seconds) and notice how you feel while bringing yourself into the present moment.
At least once per day, consider giving your full attention to something that’s important to you. It doesn’t matter what it is, just BE in that moment and notice how you feel while you’re there.
