Are You “Being” or Are You Just Being Lazy?

I’ve been humbled this week.  I was forced to really look at the message I am sending out to people.  A message I’ve tried to live, communicate and teach for years…to just “be!”  I sometimes talk about “being present” (one of my rules as a classroom teacher) and last week encouraged you (and myself) to just be and allow. 




This week I got an email from a beloved friend of 20 + years, pissed off that I was telling people to “just be” when our world was falling apart.  He felt I was giving people an excuse to just sit on their asses all day and not lift a finger to do the work that is required to get our world back on track. I’ve built my life and business around the concept and practice of “being present” so this well meaning email caused me to take pause!




Okay, his directness stung a little (a lot :))…but it inspired me.  After the sting wore off…to question my own intentions and also take a deeper look at the reasons for living, coaching and writing so much about this topic.




Was there some truth to what he was suggesting?




Was I giving people and possibly myself an excuse to be lazy? 




I knew there was some truth in it because of the strong reaction I had. 




Note:  if you have a strong reaction to something someone else says or does there is always a lesson (and a gift) in it for YOU…it has nothing to do with the other person.




So here’s what I learned.  I DO hide behind my keyboard quite often.  It is safe and I can choose whether or not I respond to emails and comments about what I write.  It protects my sensitive nature and in some ways keeps me from actually doing the work that I know needs to get done in real life that would make my services more accessible.  Writing is one way of being present for me so if I’m writing and nurturing my own soul, thus advancing the consciousness of the world, then all is well...right?  Maybe.  Or is more balance called for.  Hmmm...at least something for me to ponder.




So, I have now taken more action this week to do some of the  things I’ve wanted to do for a long time (namely getting organization and systems in place to help boost my productivity).  Whoa, did that just leave my fingertips? lol




Thanks to my amazing friend,  I’ve allowed my “being” time to be a catalyst for inspired action and both the being and the doing have been more fruitful! Woot! :)




I also learned that I don’t have to be afraid to question and reflect on what I believe to be true.  If any of you have had to leave a religion or have lived a life in opposition to your family’s values (I’ve done both) then you know what I mean. 




I was worried that if I really looked at my motivations, intentions and “truths” about being present, I would find that I actually know jack squat about what I was trying to articulate and thus be found out to be a fraud!  But the gift was that as I communicated with my friend, I became more and more convinced of the importance of becoming aware and being present in order to act, do and work from a place of authenticity. He forced me to stand up for my beliefs and also mirrored back and affirmed them as I was able to clarify my motivations.




I stand firm knowing that as we become more present to your our own life we heighten the effectiveness and meaning of our work in the world as well as create fun and ease within the process of “work” itself!




So many of us just do and do and do without ever stopping to think…what the hell am I running around doing all this for? 




Why am I working so hard at a job I despise? 




Why am I giving all of my time to things I really could care less about? 




Because society tells you to?  Your boss?  Your God?




This I know, until you are able to be - just be - with yourself  and until you get present enough to hear your own soul, your actions will be forced, laborious, and less effective than if you learn to get present and listen. 




So there it is...the lesson that kicked my butt into action and the gift of my friend (and teacher) for speaking his own truth to help me clarify my own!




Now get busy...just being!