We Are Human Beings, Not Human Doings
I am celebrating today because I said no to something this weekend! I know that may sound weird, but I have a tendency to take on a lot of things at once. This weekend, I saw that an organization I follow was running a facilitator training and instead of signing up right away, I paused. I thought about all of the things I am responsible for and participating in right now, and decided to say no. Now is not the time. There will be more opportunities in the future. I cannot tell you how relieved my husband looked when I told him of my decision! So today I am writing about doing less. I know I am not alone when it comes to action addiction so I thought this could benefit all of us. I read this article Why the Key to Savoring the Moment is Doing Less and found it interesting. My mom raised me to believe that doing nothing meant I was lazy. In fact, I still fight with myself over that judgment today. If you strive to check off as many things as you can on your to-do list, have trouble saying no, overtax yourself with projects and commitments, then think about joining me in this mission to do less.
Think about what is truly driving your need to be busy, to do more and more. Doing less can actually help reveal the amazingness of our life. It can help to bring clarity and connection. Below are a few highlights…. I hope you enjoy. Read the full article for more inspiration.
Learn How to Do Less
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? If you generally check messages, experiment with a different activity. Perhaps writing in a journal what you most appreciate or what you find most challenging. Or try sitting quietly, being curious about your breath, body, feelings, and thoughts.
Simple Practices to Savor the Moment
Explore taking a few mini “savor the moment” breaks throughout your day.
Go for a 10-minute walk.
Read some poetry.
Have a real conversation.
Notice what is underneath the compulsion to do more, to always be electronically connected. How much of this activity is based on some version of fear—fear of failure, of missing out, or just fear of a sense of aloneness or emptiness. Explore being curious, not judging, and learning from becoming more familiar with intentions and motivations.
Start by doing less!
If you are really into this idea of doing less, check out these books Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Womenby Kate Northrup or Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less by Marc Lesser.
