The art of doing nothing!

Contrary to what I presumed, doing nothing did not come easily to me.   I realized this during my job break about 5 years back, when I wanted a career shift.  It was a planned break, with no clear future career plans in place. While I told myself that I will just quit and let things take over, I walked out with a free lancing consultation assignment with that employer! And within one month of quitting, I had signed up for another small but definite commitment to another organization, fortunately in the line I wanted to pursue.  When I was chatting up with a friend during this period, her husband asked me ‘So, what are you doing now that you quit your job?’’  I started rattling off about what all options I have considered, and where I have initiated discussions, etc.  He gave me an odd look and said ‘’Why are you doing all this so soon?  Did you consider doing nothing for some time?’’. Oh, How I wish I had the wisdom to practise it!

While I have no regrets now and all the dots connected well, I would have practised more of ‘doing nothing’ during that period if I had a second chance!  With more maturity and some practised relaxation during 5 continuous years of Yoga, I think I now understand what ‘Doing nothing’ means and more importantly why it is required in every adult’s life.  Come to think of it, we need to introduce this concept to kids also, in this fast paced and highly demanding society.

‘’Doing Nothing’’ is in some sense a state of passive meditation.  You let things ebb over and sort themselves out.  You are in no hurry to accomplish anything but your mind is actively going over options, visiting past, remembering long forgotten dreams and visions, etc. I now believe that just this awareness can open doors that were invisible before.

It is also interesting to note that this state of doing nothing need not really be idle; but it is what Yoga calls as Alert State.  You are observing, open for experiences and importantly, ready to accept and make sense of what is happening to us, around us and inside us. What is happening need not always be action but a stray thought that keeps repeating itself, which was otherwise drowned in the milieu of our day to day life.  A thought that would push us to do something never considered before, to give more purpose to our life or just a simple joyful moment.

Whatever be the reward, the whole experience of ‘Doing nothing’ is bound to be an interesting self experiment, a rite of passage to a ‘wiser and contented Me’!  Though I have now learnt to take short ‘Do nothing’ breaks, I know I will someday plan for my long ‘Doing Nothing’ phase, to prepare for another exciting phase of life. Here is a toast to that!