Being Vs. Doing

 

A delicate balancing act…

We have become a society that is all about “doing” things. We measure our success by the amount of items we check off on our to-do lists. We see time as our greatest commodity and that is what limits our accomplishments.

“Doing” is an activity that is focused on getting things done and helps us achieve the things that we can define clearly. When we are “doing” something, we follow a series of linear steps to reach a goal, assess the scenario as we go, define the gaps, then fill the gaps to the goal’s completion. This process can work for everything from starting a business to baking a cake. However, does it work for other things like aligning a work team or achieving happiness or inner peace?

A “doing” mentality won’t work in these situations because they are internally focused. For these, we need to “be”.

A state of “being” means we are living in the moment. It means we are centered and open and have an awareness that allows thoughts and ideas to flow through us without forcing them. This allows space to create new solutions and ideas that we may not have thought of when in a linear “doing” space. Even time becomes flexible when we are “being” and our focus is on the person that we are.

The issue here is that most of us are out of balance. The culture in the U.S. is one where doing rules over being, and what is most important is reaching goals and acquiring material goods. People actually brag about how little sleep they get because they are so busy — that is how highly valued being busy is. In today’s world it is difficult to find time just to “be”. This is mostly because we are so connected to our phones, laptops, and iPads. Being heavy on the “doing” side, causes us to lose touch with ourselves and our vision of our life. Life then becomes a series of tasks to be completed and we forget our connection with our higher self, our source, and empower and energize ourselves through purpose and joy.

Balancing “being” and “doing” allows us to have a physical experience grounded in spirituality.

In today’s mindset, our culture is focused on “doing”. We focus on what a person does rather than who he or she is. What if we started first with “being”? Wouldn’t our lives be different? Imagine meeting someone new or just talking to ourselves and asking: “how or what do you want to be? What type of person do want to be?”

Answering these questions can lead us down an entirely new life path!

When you ask someone what they do, and they respond, “I’m an accountant”, there isn’t much more to say unless you need to advice on your taxes or need services for your business. If you ask that same person what type of person they want to be, an entirely new world can open up. They may be a person who wants to help others, or who has an impact on the world, or who shares their passion for something with others.

The conversation will be richer and more insightful and the connection with this person will be stronger. If speaking to a child who has done something wrong, the shift of the conversation to “what you want to be” changes the conversation away from punishment to reconnecting to the heart and purpose. When you focus on who you want to be, you will get insight on your passions, your true character, your self.

Try this for yourself and ask yourself these questions. Listen to your heart and ask how the answer you receive can relate to your work, your personal time, and your relationships