Last week I shared four of my favorite strategies for offering grace to ourselves. I'd like to share a fifth practice this week, which I refer to as non-doing. In keeping with the theme of non-doing, this Spark is coming your way sans-video. Sometimes (most times) less is more.
The next time you find yourself lacking in self-acceptance and in need of grace, I invite you to play with the energy of non-doing. It's really just as simple and as obvious as it sounds: DO NOTHING. Don't try to fix yourself. Don't try to figure out what's wrong. Don't try to cheer yourself up. Move out of action and into being. Step away (if only for a moment) from your to-do list. Stop talking. Don't make any decisions. As much as is humanly possible, kill the cycle of doing, going, spinning, buzzing, trying, forcing, and pushing.
That's it. Let me tell you from personal experience, it is powerfully transformative. And the best part is that it works wonders even when you suck at it. (This also comes from personal experience.)
To conclude, I want to share a beautiful paragraph with you from a fantastic book I read recently. Soak in these words. And then... do nothing:
"You don't have to work so hard at this. You don't have to do so much. You don't have to endeavor to be natural, normal, and good. It happens by itself when you least expect it. If you are confused about what you should be doing, try this. Stop what you are doing. Take care of what is in front of you, when it is in front of you, and the confusion will pass. This is called the effort of no effort. No effort is what powers the universe." - Karen Maezen Miller, Momma Zen
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O, sigh of relief. Nothing to do…
Thank you, as ever, dear Joy, for hitting the nail so ringingly on its head (and mine)!
Hahaha! So glad I could start your Monday with a hit on the head.
Oh Joy!
How liberating this spark sounds!
As always, thank you for your wisdom.
Oh, sweet June, you’re on my mind. I’m sure “non-doing” feels a bit far away at the moment. Hope you’ll be able to rest and enjoy some non-doing very soon. xoxo
Beautiful. I love this one! No argument, no striving…
❤
It never fails. Or rather, you never fail to have just the precise thing that I need and such sweet kind insights. Which is why I never just delete a Spark. Even if I’m late in getting it, your Spark helps me. So thank you. and xo
Susan´s last [type] ..Listening: Don’t Think, Just Sense
Oh, my dear Susan. Thank you for sharing this. You’ve made my day. Big love to you. xoxoxo