As members of an over-stimulated, self-centred and demanding society where focus and concentration are becoming increasingly difficult, it can be all but impossible to plan to do nothing.
And yet doing nothing can often be more important than continuously doing something.
We all need to make the time to step back, take a breath and work on some uncluttered thinking. Making the time is one thing…taking the time is another thing entirely.
Doing nothing is about de-stressing. It’s about relaxation. And, importantly, it’s about reconnection with self.
The person we are and even the person we desire to be can become lost in the swirl of being the person others demand or want us to be. It’s when we lose touch with who we are that our thinking becomes confused and clouded. Trying to be someone we are not is both exhausting and unsustainable. Facades are heavy.
It can be that when we do nothing we can achieve much. If we take the time to appreciate who we are we are better placed to appreciate those around us. If we pause to look at where we are we are better equipped to decide where it is that we want to be.
It’s vital that we realise and understand that we are personally responsible for our own happiness. We should neither expect or demand that from others. We get to choose to be happy…or not.
While that may sound like an over-simplification it is none-the-less true. Depending on the circumstances we are facing, happiness can take effort and application. But if it’s something we choose for ourselves then it remains achievable. The initial step of doing nothing can free us to rebuild our resources.
Happiness should always feature in the plan we have for our life…both present and future. The intensity can and will fluctuate. The value is immeasurable. The choice is as vital as it is personal.
Gary Bentley Counselling 