Labor. It sounds so…
um,
painful.
And exhausting.
Yet, we spend most of our days unconsciously laboring…
Laboring at the computer, laboring over what to wear, laboring over what to cook for dinner; laboring over to-do lists that never get seem to get done; laboring over what people think; laboring over the state of our homes, our kids, our weight, our finances, our hair…
So I came up with my favorite one-minute antidotes.
Ten ways to practice active non-doing:
- Sit in silence.
- Invite wonder: be curious; pretend you know nothing.
- Take your time: deliberately slow down (and watch what happens).
- Wait and allow an answer to reveal itself.
- Rest your awareness on something beautiful.
- Notice any tension in your body and see if the tightness eases by simply being aware of it.
- Accept Mystery as a legitimate state of being.
- Allow things to be just as they are without doing anything to fix or change anything.
- Don’t personalize (since it’s rarely about you).
- Breathe deeply – from your chest down to your belly through the soles of your feet and into the Earth – several times.
Start at the top of the list and practice one every day for ten days. And repeat. Keep cycling through until these practices become second-nature…
and watch what happens…
… to your overall sense of ease, peace, and well-being.
Photo: “Be” by Stephanie Bennett Vogt
Showing 6 comments
I just read some of your writing’s. The funny thing is is that my daughter is looking to have a self help group however she has some mental problems and needs proper guidence. With that said, the real reason for my comment is that I would like to set up a get together with all of the stephanie bennett’s in this world to meet, enjoy each other and see where it all goes. If you would be interested, just let me know at my email above. I really think that this is a great idea (also I need something in my life to remind me of who I was before marriage. Thanks for listening. Good job, well done with your success!
Love this…and it’s one of the few things I’m good at but can always get better. I shared this with my Monday meditation group..one is about to have foot surgery and be immobilized for 4 wks so it was perfect. I think a special place is important. I got myself a wonderful chair for my birthday and have refused to put a TV in the room with it, a place to just dream and be inspired is good, a sacred space to do nothing…What do you think of that idea?
Thank you, Lynne. If you’re open to it, I’d love to have you share your favorite ways of “doing nothing” on my blog post. … Anyone else reading this, feel free to pipe in, too.
For me it’s important to give myself permission when I’m in that sacred space to relax and be inspired even if I have to set an alarm to get on with my day…those ten minutes or whatever time I can spare are all mine and ejuvenating… I also think of it as a stay-cation at times, like if I can’t go to Tuscany I can still have a capucino (spelled right of course) and go in my dreams…
LOVE it! I’m a big fan of places to sit and lounge, and have something for me to do just that in every room of my house! … and “stay-cation”! Also a big fan of home as THE primo destination. Can’t beat it for comfort and being surrounded by all the things I love.
Yes, and there’s also the DAY cation where you give yourself a day to have a vacation at home complete with pedicure, lunch at a special place you never go, nap in your sacred space etc. whatever fun things you can do without getting on a plane to somewhere else. Very rewarding once in awhile.