The Effectiveness of Doing Nothing

When we think of particularly tidy people, we often imagine that they must be tidying up all the time, that they perhaps get up extra early to put their home in order, make the bed, wash the dishes or do other household chores. And above all, we imagine that they are NEVER lazy.

These past few days here in our mountain home with friends have convinced me even more deeply of the opposite.

Our guests are not only dear friends, but also our coaches in communication & effectiveness, living in the present moment and much more. I had been so looking forward to their visit and had imagined all sorts of things we could offer them - from markets to hikes with a stop at a mountain hut. I wanted to prepare special desserts, breakfasts and cakes (my husband always takes excellent care of the main meals), and there were going to be outings and so much more. But the morning after we arrived here together, I woke up ill.

Anyone who knows our friends Ariel & Shya Kane knows that they are very clear and direct, and in this case they were very clear that I should rest … no clearing the table, washing dishes or jumping into action whenever an idea of something to do popped into my head. Just rest. Be as lazy as a sloth. Sometimes in bed, sometimes on the sofa in the company of my friends and husband. The weekend before our arrival, we had attended a seminar led by the two of them, which made it much easier for me to settle into doing nothing. I even let my thoughts rest, rather than mentally cleaning all the windows, dusting the lamps, working on projects or writing emails. Of course, there were occasional moments when I felt the urge to get things done, but even then I didn’t have to hold on to the idea that I needed to accomplish something. I could quickly let go and return to being a sloth.

Today I feel healthy and full of energy, and things are getting done with a sense of calm and ease, almost effortlessly. Without any rush or stress. And our guests enjoyed the rest and quiet too. They also got to simply relax.

I so often notice this with my clients: while they are resting, they are already doing so much work in their minds to get their homes in order that afterwards they need to recover from all the thinking. And then they think they are simply lazy.

Being lazy, my friends, is an art.

If you’d like to find out more about the work of Ariel & Shya Kane: www.TransformationMadeEasy.com