What’s on your ‘to be’ list?

“Not many teachers in this world can give you as much enlightenment in one year as sitting all alone, for three days, in your closet would do.” — Hafiz

As I made my way to the kitchen this morning, I could see out the window a bright pink sun making its way up the horizon. The whole room lit up with its rosy glow. I stood, took it all in, and let the moment have its way with me. My day was going to be a busy one, and instead of focusing only on my “to do” list, this moment with the sun rising had me thinking about giving equal time to my “to be” list. Only, I’d never made a “to be” list. How about you?

I began considering how I would go about keeping a “to be” list. First, the questions: What is being and how do I plan for it? Do we all define being differently? I think of being as the reflective, inner world within each of us. I see it as the aspect of ourselves that observes and gives meaning to the “doer” part of us. I see being as the vehicle by which we experience the invisible aspects of ourselves, like love and our connection to something larger than ourselves. Some call it spirit—the part of us that wonders about our existence and why we are here. While the part of us engaged in doing changes throughout our lives, I think our being is unchanging. Being speaks to us in the language of profound stillness, like a moment of awe that leaves us without words. Being opens us up to the fullness of an experience.

When we overdo and under-be, we may experience symptoms of anxiety, overwhelm, disconnection/numbness, and mental confusion, to name a few. Planning “to-be” experiences can help us maintain our balance and well-being. What are ways we engage in being? Many spiritual traditions believe being is experienced from a flow state—where we are lost in the moment and lose track of time. I love those moments when I find myself in them. We can consciously create moments of flow through the distinct aspects of our being—our body, mind, heart, and spirit.

We can create a flow state through our bodies with focused movement like walking, dancing, swimming, and yoga. Flow states of the mind can be achieved in meditation, prayer, and mindfulness practices. We can create flow experiences through the heart with acts of service, empathy, and self-compassion. Spiritual flow states are accessed through creativity, dream work, and quiet time spent in the natural world. To be in flow, we simply bring our full presence to the experience we’re having.

So today, I invite you to join me in creating flow and exploring the art of being human. Now is the time to be.

Xo -s