The Sweetness of Doing Nothing

This week at church, the homily was about patience and our relentless need to focus on what hasn't been done. The priest talked about "dolce far niente" - the sweetness of doing nothing. It went on for what felt like 300 hours, but only because it felt like a personal attack. (As evidenced by all my family members staring pointedly at me.)

THOUGHT 1: Mind the gap

If I offloaded one thing, I would immediately find something to fill the gap. That's not an achievement problem. It's an internal one. It requires gratitude for the moment, and guardrails around leisure.

THOUGHT 2: When the wheels start to wobble 

For me, high stress comes with raging headaches and poor calendar management, which means I miss the healthy things that keep me healthy. And a penchant to be the worst version of myself with other people. That's not winning.

TRY THIS: Reset the rhythm

Since I'm actively in this mode, here's what I find works. Physically slow down when I catch myself rushing. Remove meetings so I have one day a week with none. Start the day with a meditation or prayer app, end it the same way. Go for long walks or go to the gym. And for every item I see that isn't done, name 3 things that have been.

WHAT WE DO: Want to understand how you’re wired?

There’s an eight-minute assessment I use with every client. You choose a list of words. And it shows how you’re naturally wired, what work energizes you, and where you may be working against yourself.