Being Vs Doing
Are YOU here to be or to do?
Did you ever look at a picture of a castle or a small island and went “WOW”? Then you weighed the question of being.
Native American Indians have several powerful proverbs on this subject. This one is particularly close to my heart: “Work is the invention of the white man”. They might be right. Before we became “industrialized”, people worked as much as necessary to survive. Now, especially in industrialized nations, overworking has somehow become a badge of honor.
The world conspires to keep us busy. If you happen to be female, even more so. There is a method to this madness. People who are always busy, overworked, and tired are easy to use, mislead, and control.
The other day, I had a conversation with a friend during which I remembered fondly my time in Europe. To make sure I express my sentiments well, I concluded by saying “Americans live to work; Europeans work to live.” (By the way, when it comes to the happiness rating, America ranks #19.)
And here’s the deal, life isn’t about just doing. It’s about being, too. To be even more specific, it’s about stopping to appreciate life, appreciate people, and appreciate yourself.
In the episode “Holistic Worldview”, I elaborated on the many systems we’re part of. Appreciating life makes us a part of another system altogether, the system of life. Every living being, a human, an animal, a plant, or even the Earth herself, have common denominators. We all have needs, vulnerabilities, and a longing for balance. Our aliveness and its demands aren’t exclusively human, we share them with all life forms.
There is no hierarchy in aliveness. Any life deserves respect and care. No life is “superior” to another. If you think that people are the superior form of life, you are in for disappointment. Here are a few examples.
A universal accident – like a huge falling meteorite, or a sudden “death” of the Sun – could wipe off the Earth and all life on it.
The Earth’s natural disasters – on occasion – threaten lives. In its power, the Earth is far superior to other life forms, including humans.
We are not more or better than other animals, either. Some animals run faster than we can; some are stronger than we are; some hear or see better than we ever could; some plants beat us in sun protection and even birth control.
When you truly appreciate life, your empathy extends to all life forms.
Needless to say, the same goes for appreciating people. Those close to you and strangers. People (ourselves included) aren’t perfect. We are all torn in many directions, vulnerable, fallible, and yet, capable of greatness. We all have a past, emotional baggage, our share of pain, and fragile egos. We all need some form of acknowledgment, support, and empathy.
Appreciate those who care about you and affirm you. Letting them know how much you value them, matters!
We all deserve acknowledgment, support, and empathy. Why? Because even those who appear to be invincible aren’t. Because even those who appear to be beyond help could make a surprise comeback. Because some are “angels” among us: more sensitive, more thoughtful, more caring, and more giving than others.
(I deeply admire Chef Jose Andres whose non-profit World Central Kitchen is present and delivering ready-to-eat meals to victims of natural and manmade disasters. Most of us feel sorry for victims. Many are trying to help. Some donate goods or money. But meals? It takes a great deal of heart to think that under the most challenging circumstances, people still need to eat. And a meal is not just food, but also a symbol of solidarity, support, and love.
I’m just as much in awe of Dolly Parton. A successful artist who is an even more successful human being. Her contributions to education, health, and alleviating human suffering – I’m pretty sure, I missed something! – are beyond generous. And with all that, she remains humble. Such a beauty!
There are others. Some are household names. Some are our neighbors. Individuals make a difference! Treat every person as if they had the potential to perform miracles. They do.)
Embrace your being by appreciating life and others. Don’t forget yourself!
To participate in the game of life, you need good health, the right food, enough sleep, some recreation, and yes, time for yourself.
– Take time to just be.
– Take time to regenerate.
– Take time to feel your feelings.
– Take time to meditate and reflect.
Doing is a poor substitute for being. The incentive to act in the most important matters comes from your sense of being.
No, I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with doing. There isn’t. But there has to be a balance between being and doing. Not taking an appropriate regeneration time turns us into robots. We become disconnected from ourselves, people, and nature. We become close-minded and callous. We operate on auto-pilot. We lose perspective. We stop caring.
Overworking and multitasking destroy the soul.
Life is a blend of both, being and doing.
It starts with being. (Babies don’t work.)
Don’t forget that it ends with being, too. (Your actual legacy won’t be your job title or even your wealth but your reputation as a spouse, parent, friend, and human being.)
#BeingVsDoing #AppreciateLife #ModernSpirituality #Spirituality
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