Do Less

Can we all just stop trying so hard?

Can we do less forcing, do less resisting, do less suffering?

Can we?

“Can we let go of the comfort of our suffering?” ~ Dr Joe Dispenza

This week let’s all do just a little bit less…or a lot less, depending on how much we are willing to let go of.

Do less. Be Present. Accept the moment. Accomplish more

What are YOU trying really hard to do?

“Trying” as in; struggling with; resisting against; or forcing to happen.

Our ego is going to go into panic mode when I suggest this but what if we approached each day with the intention and willingness to;

Let go

Let be

Let things unfold

What If…

• What if there is a better way but we are stuck in doing it “our way” or “the same way” therefore we can not invite a better way in?
• What if there is an easy solution available but we can not see it because we are trying so hard to control things (or force our way or our opinion)?
• What if…we don’t always know what is best?
• What if we are so adamant that we know what is, that we never open our mind or our heart to the potential or possibility of so much more?
• What if we are so determined to resist change that we are not even aware that we are watching our life pass us by?
• What if there is a way that we do not have to suffer but because we are so determined to blame someone or something for our struggles, we are blocked from seeing it. And furthermore blocking ourselves from seeing that WE are actually causing this suffering ourselves?
• What if there is a greater lesson in what is happening around us but we are so resistant to accepting the lesson because it would mean we would have to take responsibility and stop the blaming?
• What if there is a way that we do not have to suffer physically, emotionally or mentally but we have convinced ourselves there is no other way?
• What if there is a reason a “theme” keeps re-occurring in our life but we are stubborn, or perhaps scared and not willing to explore it?
• What if needing someone else to change, really means WE need to change?

There is so much energy wasted and depleted in all of these “What if’s”

So…what if we stopped resisting?

What if we stopped forcing?

What if we stopped trying so hard to prove our point?

• What would happen if we opened our minds to a different way of being, instead of defending our fearful ego and its beliefs about ourselves?
• What would happen if we stopped needing to defend our point of view?
• What would happen if we relaxed, did less and opened our mind to the unknown of what is next?
• What would happen if we let down our guard (ego) and opened our heart?
• What would happen if we put down our phones, put away our work and were willing to BE? Be with ourselves. Be with others. Have a conversation. Express our love or appreciation. Listened to someone – really listened.
• What if we could let go of the comforts of our suffering?
• What if we could embrace every moment as though we chose it?
• What if we could make every moment our friend?

“Do I want this current moment to be my friend or my enemy?” ~Eckhart Tolle

This quote from Eckhart Tolle in his book “The New Earth” provided a profound shift in my life. I realized with this one sentence, that I had a choice.

In every situation I get to choose

This choice was all mine

One choice kept me in my ego and would create more suffering for me and the other choice would align me with my Soul and release the struggle for me. My ego choice would require me to hold on tightly to all the energy needed to keep it my enemy and my Soul choice would allow me to do less and simply accept it as my friend. This is where Eckhart’s quote and conscious choice making (last week’s blog post on karma) has changed my life.

There is a lot of energy expended & heart ache experienced when I chose to make any moment my enemy

There is a huge release of suffering which opens my body & heart to peace, whenever I chose to make any moment my friend.

Acceptance rushes in as I choose to make the current moment my friend. It allows me to “do less” as I no longer need to hold onto my suffering. I no longer need to blame anyone or anything for my suffering and I no longer need to prove my point of view to anyone.

I get to just BE

Be present

Be aware

Be me

I get to accept what is

I can desire a different outcome but first I need to accept the current moment as my friend and no longer fight the current outcome.

Do I always make this choice in my life?

Nope. Not right away anyways. I will often fall into old patterns of suffering (don’t we all? 😊) however – when I finally remind myself, that I have a choice and I make this shift of perspective, I know I am now ready to take responsibility and make the necessary changes in my life.  

This is powerful and empowering choice making

To make the current moment our friend I suggest the following;

• ACCEPT; Accept what is. Do not struggle with the current moment. We can desire a different outcome however THIS moment needs to be fully accepted in order for that to even begin to unfold.
• RELINQUISH BLAME; Release all blame. Blame no one (ourselves included). Blame nothing. Even if someone or something is clearly to blame – too much effort is required to hold onto this story. Any blame story is exhausting & will drain all your energy. Let it go. It does not serve any of us to hold onto blame. Instead ask the golden question “What can I learn from this” or “How can I turn this into something good?”
• ALLOW; This step is all about allowing others to have their own opinion and standing confidently in our opinion. Standing confidently in our opinion means that we are so confident in our opinion, belief or point of view that we do not have to force it on or convince anyone else of it. We let them believe what they choose to believe and we get to believe what we choose to believe. This may require those involved to mutually “agree to disagree” and respect for each other is the outcome and both people or parties release the need to defend their point of view. NOTE; When we truly feel confident in our beliefs, we feel no need to prove it to anyone else – if we need to prove it, we don’t fully believe in it ourselves. 

As always, these are all ways of being. If you want less suffering in your life, “doing less” is something you will want to practice in your life. The benefits to your relationships, your life and your health will be staggering.

Commit to these practices by setting a daily intention 😊

Intention This Week

Here are some examples of what you may want to set for your daily intention. As always word your intentions in a way that feel right for you. Word them so you feel inspired to follow through with them.

• “Today, I let go of struggling”
• “Today, I let be”
• “Today, I release blame”
• “Today, I do less”
• “Today, I am present”
• “Today, I choose every moment as my friend”
• “Today, I accept”
• “Today, I allow”
• “Today, I do not need to defend my opinions or beliefs”

Doing less of course can also mean physically doing less. We often need to slow down and “stop doing” to shift into “being” to realize and become aware of the struggling we are actually putting ourselves through on a daily basis.

Meditation is the ultimate practice for “doing less” The less you “do” in meditation the better!

Communing with nature is a great practice of “doing less”

Play, laughter, adventure & rest are all great practices of “doing less”

Enjoy your week of doing less, efforting less, resisting less & suffering less. Enjoy meditating more, relaxing more, breathing deeper, playing more, laughing more, loving more, appreciating more and experiencing inner peace.

Let’s Tap this IN…