Dear Friends,
One of the themes of the recent DNC (and that Michelle Obama highlighted) was to “do something” and I appreciate that.
It is easy to complain, which just keeps us stuck. I have friends who will complain to me that they do not have time to meditate each day, but then will tell me, “I binged watch this great Netflix series the other day for 5 hours. It was great.”
But finding 15 minutes to meditate is impossible? Usually we can find the time. Complaining does not help. I have always liked the phrase:
Instead of complaining about the darkness, it is better to light a candle.
Though if I was to give a talk at the DNC, I would have added that “Doing” is best partnered with “Being.” It is not just what we do, but who we are and how we show up that matters.
I know extremely successful people who “do” and achieve a lot, but they cannot sit quietly by themselves for a minute or two. Yet they are revered as “successful” in the eyes of the world.
“All of humanity's problems, stem from man's (and woman’s) inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
— Blaise Pascal
Or as they say in meditation circles, “Do not just do something, sit there!”
Yes, we need action, but we need right action, which needs to be connected to presence. How much do we do each day, and how much of that doing is inspired by presence or conscious doing?
So today, may we Do Something, but also may we Learn to Be. May we take time to be, either in nature or by ourselves. Can we actually do nothing for a moment?
This is not easy in our world today. Technology keeps us living “at the pace of machines,” instead of the “pace of our body and heart.” I do not know if all humanity’s problems stem from our inability to be at peace with ourselves, but certainly many of them.
However, as we get more comfortable with Being, it is much easier to know when DOING is needed. We need both.
SOREN
JOIN US!
How will we navigate the emerging challenges of our time, especially AI, in this new chapter?
We are excited to announce that TRISTAN HARRIS and ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, will join us in NYC on September 12th, along with YUVAL HARARI and JON KABAT-ZINN, and others.
There are a limited number of spots in person.
You can also join us livestream.
Thank you 💕
Dnc is trying to inspire action. I get where youre going but its a stretch...
Maybe the message should be do something by with the right intention. Before we fo anything on autopilot become very present to what the right intention is!