by Sally Anderson
In Italy they have a saying, “dolce far niente’, which means ‘The Sweetness Of Doing Nothing’ – check out the clip from the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pr2IsSv2TA
Today’s topic, now more than ever, is one that I LOVE facilitating with my high-end leadership clientele. Not only because it is a ‘game changer’ but because I truly do believe it is one of the most effective strategies for business today where exponential results and heightened productivity is concerned.
We live in a world where we believe working all hours that God sends, constantly driving, striving, forcing things to happen is some form of ‘indicator’ for high end performance. Maybe in years past this was the adopted standard BUT nowadays it’s just not a SMART strategy. A high percentage of leaders operate in the DOINGness state of leadership vs BEING leadership. The best way I can explain this is to read the most highly recommended book I encourage leadership clients to read and that book is called, ‘Synchronicity – The Inner Path Of Leadership’ by Joseph Jaworski, the founder of the American Institute of BEING Leadership vs DOING Leadership and his journey to convince the Fortune 500 Company CEO’s of America in a different way of operating/being – HIGHLY recommend reading, if leadership is your game!: https://www.amazon.com/Synchronicity-Inner-Leadership-Joseph-Jaworski/dp/1609940172
When you DO something from the DOINGness state you are DISCONNECTED and you experience: Struggle, anxiety, pressure, overwhelm, depression, fear, and the like.
- Here you are operating in what I call the 1-3 dimensional lower level consciousness state of MEANING
When you DO something from the BEINGness state you are CONNECTED and you experience: Flow, slipstream, the vortex, the zone, ease, grace, peace, equanimity.
- Here you are operating in what I call the 4-5th and beyond dimensional higher level consciousness state of EQUANIMITY/CO-CREATION
When operating in the DOINGness state, the energy is frenetic and there is limited space for new opportunities to occur/come in.
When operating in the BEINGness state you create space for new opportunities to come in, synchronistic events occur as a function of who you are being, magic, miracles are abundant BUT you have to create the space and for that to happen you must STOP the incessant DOING.
Plant Analogy: When you plant a seed in the ground you cannot stand over the earth and yell, grow you bastard, well you could but with no results. For the seed to grow and mature there is a gestation period, where you water it,
manure it, cultivate it, and in its own time and space it grows into a beautiful strong plant. A lot can be learnt from the natural process of nature.
I recommend to all my clients to schedule out half a day in their calendar a week to STOP, get out of the office, STOP doing what you would normally do and do something you enjoy doing, go surfing, go fishing, walk in nature, have a round of golf, get some pampering – a massage, a manicure/pedicure/healing session/facial, read a book, watch a movie, go the beach, swim in the water, have a duvet afternoon, start a creative endeavor, ie painting, creative writing, etc – just STOP what you are normally doing to create space – in this space
new creative ideas will flow, magic and miracles will miraculously occur, why… because you stopped the frenetic energy of forcing things to happen. The psychological benefit of reverse psychology can at times be a complete and utter mind…. you know what!
To do this however, you need to transform your relationship with ‘trusting the unknown’ dimension. Sadly, few leaders know how to navigate this terrain, especially now in our post Covid world.
Here are some standard responses when I raise this conversation:
- But Sally, how can I leave the office, I have so much I need to do?
- But Sally, if I leave the office who is going to do all the work, it’s just going to get backed up?
- But Sally, I cannot leave the office what would the staff think?
- But Sally, that would be irresponsible!
- But Sally, I cannot afford to take time out of the office!
- But Sally, are you crazy, it’s just not the right time!
- But Sally, EVERY week, you must be mad!
- But Sally, what standard is that setting for the staff if I skiver off work?
- But Sally, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I was not working!
- But Sally, I have responsibilities and if I don’t do it who will?
- But Sally, I don’t know how to STOP, I have never been good at it!
- But Sally, if anyone found out what I was doing, what then?
You get the gist – the look on some CEO’s faces when I facilitate this conversation, it’s literally like I have said I was going to murder their children! Vehement resistance ensues and some excuse or negative response is evoked!
So what do I recommend. YES, you guessed it ‘embrace the art of doing NOTHING’, or SOMETHING that lights the fire in your belly for passion, excitement, and joy of life! REGULARLY, EVERY week and I guarantee you will be massively intrigued by what occurs!
I myself am about to go off grid for 10 days in May, no technology, hang out on the beach, read, chill, down tools completely, and I ensure EVERY 3 months I plan a break away, outside of taking 6 weeks off at the end of the year. When was the last time you scheduled actually scheduled doing NOTHING or SOMETHING that floats your boat on your ‘To Do’ list? HIGHLY recommend taking your calendar TODAY and marking out a whole afternoon, EVERY
week in your calendar where you dedicate time to you, and you can do whatever you want, but NOTHING to do with work – this ironically enough is one of the BEST investments you will ever make in your business if results are what you are interested in – it’s in the not doing that creates the space for miracles to occur.
You have no idea the gold that lies in this advice and wisdom!
