Italians have a saying, la dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing.
I love this saying because, for most of us in the Western world who focus on doing, it tells us what to do — nothing — and savour it. It gives us permission to BE: the act of being. It’s visceral. We hear this, and we innately know the joy that doing nothing brings. We exhale and think, Yeah, I want that.
A balanced life requires both being and doing.
However, we’re conditioned to believe our worth and value lie in what we do, not who we are. We measure success by how much one accomplishes, especially if it can be measured financially.
This past week, I purposely focused on being (because I realized I’ve been far too focused on doing).
I consciously ignored my phone (I’ve been addicted to it lately), spent quality time with a friend and my sisters, and enjoyed time outdoors, appreciating the last hurrah of summer we’ve been blessed with here in Ontario. But it wasn’t easy, especially at first.
When you look at being as something to do — another thing to achieve — you go into it expecting a specific result rather than allowing what you need to find you.
Shifting from doing to being can feel unsettling, particularly if it’s been a while since you let go of the need to please, perfectionism, deadlines (real or self-imposed), to-do lists that keep getting longer, projects, or the feeling that doing nothing is lazy, unproductive, or a waste of time.
Doing, doing, doing without time for being leaves one feeling exhausted, used, uninspired, unfulfilled, unhappy, listless, depressed, uncertain, and confused.
Being, when you surrender to it, fills your empty cup. It offers space and time for inspiration to land within you and creative ideas to seed and bloom. It allows for deep rest that leaves you feeling rejuvenated. You notice the little things, bringing a smile and an awareness of all there is to appreciate in your life right now. You breathe deeper and sleep better.
Being enhances doing.
It brings YOU back into the equation and reignites the joy in your doing.
Being connects you with your heart so you can better hear its whispers.
Being is what my new course, Conversations With Your Soul: What your Soul wants you to know about LOVE, ABUNDANCE, WEALTH, HAPPINESS and PURPOSE, is all about — letting who you really are inform what you do next.
Registration is Open
Learn more HERE
Conversations With Your Soul:
What your Soul wants you to know about
LOVE, ABUNDANCE, WEALTH, HAPPINESS & PURPOSE
5-week online program
October 1 to 29, 2024
Learn More HERE
