Something about
nothing
relax
SEPTEMBER 30 2018
#29SOMETHINGABOUTNOTHING Something about Nothing by Julie Furlong My cousin and I had a conversation… …He was staying on a few extra nights to holiday, whilst I was about to embark on a 37-hour journey home to Aussie land. I said to him, ‘what are you going to do without me’. He happily replied; ‘Nothing, just nothing. Stare at the cliffs, disconnect and relax’. Which lead me to write this month’s post. There was a time in my life when I hated the thought of myself doing nothing, for many reasons. Firstly, earlier in my life it was the fear of my father finding out I was doing nothing and being accused of being lazy (Read: Brave Business Lessons). Then later is was just sheer guilt. Little did I know or think then that doing nothing is a great self-investment and changes your thinking. This sort of state will leave you fully relaxed - it’s like having a holiday and coming back refreshed with new ideas plunging back into opportunity and activity. It’s normal to feel we should always be so terribly busy, and the need to get things done. It fulfils us. We say that we are too busy to do nothing. We live in a life where it seems we always need to be busy or at least look busy, as much as possible. Our thoughts have led us to believe that doing nothing is seen as a waste of time or just plain lazy…or even worse, gives the impression that we are insignificant with an empty life.
MASTERING DOING NOTHING IS NOT EASY, IT REQUIRES EFFORT AND I MUST ADMIT I AM STILL IN TRAINING (A LIFE TIME OF WORK, CHILDREN AND NOT SLOWING DOWN WILL DO THIS) – IT’S DEFINITELY A SKILL TO BE LEARNED. YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR LIFE (READ: LET GO) So, perhaps allow yourself to do absolutely nothing? Make an appointment with yourself and simply stop to rest your mind. Don’t confuse what the true essence of doing nothing really is – really stop doing anything else, no books, no internet, just relax without feeling guilty like; • • • • • • • • •
Take a nap, Find out what the day looks like outside, Gaze at the clouds, Stare out the window, Go somewhere quiet, Watch the day turn into darkness, Take a long bath, Sit in the sun or Close your eyes, even if it’s just for five minutes.
So, ask yourself – are you really too busy to be doing nothing? Figure out what doing nothing means to you and open up some new possibilities.
juliefurlongnotes.com