You’ve seen enough TED Talks to know there are things you can do to live more effectively.
If fact, you may utilize some of those approaches now, at least the ones aimed at getting more done faster. You’re doing things to get ahead. And help you win. And with all that doing, you’re probably really busy, so you don’t have time to do anything more than what you’re doing now.
It’s a fact that some things in life require determination and hard work. Lots of doing. But other things, such as emotional well-being and spiritual wisdom, are just the opposite.
In those areas, you can live more purposefully if you learn how to stop doing some things!
Understanding What You Are Doing
The following account may seem a bit extreme, or perhaps eerily familiar. Either way, there is some of each of us in this story, whether we are aware of it or not. How much of you do you see?
You like having everything under control, so that’s how you approach each day. Sure, there are things you worry about, but you do what you can to control those too. Along the way, you’ve done some things you don’t feel good about, and developed some bad habits that bother you at times, but not enough to make any major changes.
Plus, it’s a pain dealing with the people you have to put up with every day, and those resentments are hard to let go of. You’ve heard that prayer might help, but your hectic schedule doesn’t leave any time for that anymore. You’ve got a lot to do, but as long as you wind up getting what you know you deserve, it’s all good.
That may seem a normal way to live if you’re one of those people who likes being in control. It may be your natural orientation, and you don’t even notice how much energy it takes to live that way. How much work, and worry, and striving, and anticipating, just to get through the day.
Many of us don’t think much about how or why we do what we do. If we did, it might occur to us that there could be an easier way—a better way—to live.
How to Stop Doing and Start Living
Even if you’re really busy (in fact, especially if you’re really busy), you can change your life for the better. You can live the right way, if you are willing to let go of some things. By learning how to stop doing, you can start living.
The question is: do you yearn for something better than what you have now? Do you want to live right: get right with God; get right with yourself; get right with others; take the next right step; and find the right purpose?
If you do, there is a breakthrough concept that could rock your world: you can improve your life by NOT doing some things! By letting go of those energy-absorbing, soul-numbing habits that have become part of your lifestyle. Ask yourself: which of these things are you willing to stop?
- Stop trying to control everything and accept the serenity of surrender.
- Stop repeating your mistakes so you can let down the burden of shame.
- Stop holding onto your anger and resentments of others.
- Stop staying so busy; slow down and feel God’s presence.
- Stop being so relentlessly self-absorbed all the time.
It’s a fact, and a blessing, that you can live more by doing less.
By learning how to stop doing, you can start living with more peace, joy, and purpose. With an eye on what is important versus urgent, eternal rather than temporal. By thinking now about what will be important when you’re older. By being intentional on what you don’t do as well as what you do.
What are you willing to stop?
Question: Are you willing to learn how to stop doing some of the things you do?
Action: Pick one of those five areas that would mean the most to you, and stop!
Photo by Juan Antonio Capó 
Photo by walknboston Photo by Clover Autrey
