The Balance of Being and Doing
Posted on August 13, 2019 by Lauren Seufert, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
We are called human "beings" however we spend most of our time "doing". In this article I talk about how to create a balanced approach in your life.
Most of us are constantly striving to live in balance. A balance between family, friends, our health, our work, our hobbies. Since many of us spend a significant portion of our time working, many call this balance that we are striving for a work / life balance. However, this phrase indicates that work and life are two separate things, rather than work being one portion of the entire pie of our life. But I believe that this concept is part of the problem. We insinuate that work is separate from living. But wouldn’t we want to integrate such a large portion of how we spend our time into our overall life picture? What about balancing all aspects of our life (mental, spiritual, emotional), where work is only one segment, and things like family, recreation, health, friends are others?
What may be much more relevant and relatable if you want to call it a balance of sorts is saying our “Doing / Being” balance. Doing, indicating more of a getting things done mindset. A checking off of to-do list, action list of tasks and requirements that are necessary (a lot of which tends to fill our work days). Being, indicating more a state of flow mindset, or just enjoying the present moment; not feeling as you are getting something accomplished, but just living in the now. We tend to view “being” as relaxing or doing pleasurable things, however I have witnessed one can actually experience this in work as well. Fully aligned with our values, fully on purpose, fully connected with ourselves. We are called human “beings”, aren’t we?
But when are we actually just “being” in life? We are constantly creating check lists and actions that will propel us through our days in a mega effective manner. Juggling the complexities of life, trying to enjoy a bit as well along the way. And what would mindlessly surfing the internet be considered? This is not necessarily doing anything, but I wouldn’t categorize it exactly as “being” either!
There are tons of books written about being more present, about focusing on being in the now. In order to get to this state of connection and “being”, it is important that we really are tough with ourselves. Mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. We tend to put so much emphasis on the “doing” in life, sometimes we forget that all of these experiences we are having, are part of our life. They will be locked in as future memories (or not) as we weave the fabric of our fleeting and impermanent lives. If we were to focus more on the “being” in all aspects of our lives, what could be possible? What emotions would come up? What energy would be possible? If we were to focus more on these real energetic connections with others and ourselves, how much more fulfilling could our life be?
All of this requires a high level of discipline, self-awareness, curiosity, and courageousness to go through the highs and lows; an acceptance for oneself in all of our capacity. It requires honesty and trust that we will be OK. In experiencing these emotions in others around us, it requires empathy, patience, self-management and acceptance. All of these qualities can be linked to emotional intelligence; however, I believe it embodies even more. A willingness to be open, to learn, and most importantly, to love.
So, while we are sometimes busy with our agendas, and our in-betweens are filled with checking our devices or phones to get a reality check or see what is going on with the world, just check in with yourself. Try to just “be” and experience the present moment around you. That is the reality, the technology is a distraction. When you start enjoying the present moment without help from your device, you will see things you haven’t noticed before. Suddenly the trees outside of your office window have beautiful buds or flowers, or the picture hanging in the elevator peeks your interest or creativity. The person sitting next to you on the subway may show you an empathetic smile, giving you just the connection and appreciation you need at that moment.
So much is available to us if we just look around. What are all of the great things we miss out on while we are looking down and tuning out? If we put down our devices, there is a whole world waiting for us. Look up, experience, and start living again.
