Stop DOing, and start BEing

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are human BEings, not human DOings.

In talking with my wellness and therapist friends, I have learned that we are all hearing the same things from clients and would-be clients: "I don't have time", "I'm too busy to..." . It's a pretty loud chorus at present and it has made me sit up and ask what can be done to shift this collective voice & support reclaiming responsibility for our health and well-being.

Being busy is addictive and a bit of a badge of honour in some circles. Most of us city dwellers are overstimulated, sleep deprived and facing so many choices that we are not here, now and living this moment with awareness. The levels of anxiety, depression, dissociation, isolation, suicide and disconnection from our body and wisdom is unprecedented.

While it may seem morbid to some, I have considered my last breath in this world a lot and I find the research that reveals the top regrets of the dying to be very telling. Those on the precipice off death do not encourage us to do more in order to have the esteem of others or latest or dream ‘X’. On the contrary, their heightened perspective on life encourages us to feel, express, love and play more.

How to BE more and Do Less:

Do nothing for 10 minutes every day. This is an entry point into meditation. The mind will relentlessly pull you from the peace of presence because it is well practiced, but be patient. It, like a wild horse, can become steadier. Set the intention, trust yourself and commit daily. In this video I offer you a tip on how to move forward with this practice.

Not-Doing List. We are so good at writing "To Do" lists that contribute to a feeling of overwhelm (even though the final checkmark is ohhh so satisfying), that I thought it would be interesting to write a "Not Doing" list. Tune in after your 10 minutes of doing nothing and write all the things you do not wish to do and see how it feels.

Take it a step further and set an alarm, for example, at 14:13 to just stop in the middle of your day and ask, "what do I need right now?" What is my intuition telling me? This will help you to tune into what your body is trying to communicate, and identify what feelings of safety and flow are present, as well as what is niggling at you and you are avoiding.

Enjoy the clarity, focus and calm that comes when you really listen to yourself. What is your heart asking for? How could you nourish yourself more?

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