Doing is what we do.
So much so that we have become human doings rather than human beings.
Most of us are very familiar with the phrase, “Don’t just sit there, do something”. But what about, “Don’t just do something, sit there”. 😊 A little different, isn’t it?
For most people doing is far more familiar than being.
What I'd like to chat about today is...
How can we be in our life with more presence, connection and flow even when life is busy and the world is noisy?
What does ‘being’ mean? What does that look like?
Being can be mistaken for being lazy or sitting on the couch and not doing anything.
We may have an idea that we don’t have time to be, or that it’s not productive.
The truth is, we do have time and it is productive.
When we take time to be, we are pausing and noticing the moment as it is.
Every time we pause, we are creating space in our mind, and in our body. We are connecting to the reality of what is.
When we are more present it is a gift to our mental, physical and spiritual well-being. We are recharging our batteries throughout the day rather than draining them and running on empty.
The more space we have the more connected we are to ourselves and life.
For most of my life I made sure every moment was accounted for. I didn’t want space. I didn’t want to pause. Having space felt uncomfortable or like a threat to a part of me.
Fast forward to the present. I recently participated in a 5-day retreat that was focused on space, and it was quite refreshing to witness how comfortable and familiar I have become with space; t the same time knowing space is a mystery that is ever changing. I am more fascinated than ever.
The inner journey is a sacred one, where we relearn how to be. We rediscover our true nature and as we do, we connect to the beauty, mystery and miracle of our existence.
This is what being looks like.
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
When we were young children, we were present as we learned new things and lived life.
Now, as adults, we have the opportunity to return to that beingness which also includes being curious and inquisitive, engaged and intrigued.
When you think about it, we have around 16 hours a day to practice being.
This is our life practice, and the most important.
Being means:
· We are choosing to be engaged in our life.
· We are paying attention on purpose.
Where do we start?
I start my day with meditation. It supports me in living life from the inside-out, being present, feeling connected and aware. It relaxes my nervous system. I am more in flow. It creates space to be.
We set the intention to practice being in the moment.
We notice what we are doing when we are doing it.
Think about when we first learned to drive. We were present, right? We had to be. We were learning a new skill. Hands in the 10 and 2 position, remember that?
As adults, we can quite often drive home and not even remember the drive because we were somewhere else.
We’ve brushed our teeth, washed the dishes, put on our clothes, walked thousands and thousands of times. So much so we do most of it all on autopilot.
What if we did each task like it was the first time? Fresh and new.
We can do the same things in our day – but it is a very different experience if we are present than if we are on autopilot and caught up in doing.
How else can we practice?
Observe your thoughts - During the day, if your mind wanders and you catch it, there is a space in that moment of noticing. Pause. Breathe. Reconnect to this moment.
Be inquisitive - Ask yourself questions like, “How am I feeling right now?”
Notice your breath - Stop and take one breath. I do this as I go about my day. I love it!
Pay attention - Pause and notice your surroundings as you go for a walk, when you have a shower feel the water flowing on your skin, feel the temperature of the water. Notice how it feels as you wash your hair. Sit and enjoy a coffee or tea, savour the flavour.
When we take time to be, it supports us in our life. It will keep us grounded, less stressed, more fulfilled and connected to the truth of who we are.
We are not robots. We are living, breathing human beings. We have emotions, thoughts, and experiences that are meant to be noticed, felt and appreciated.
Feel your body. Notice your surroundings. Be.
With loving kindness,
Diane