Be

At any given moment, we receive countless messages telling us all the things we need to do. We are misled by an idea that success is dictated by accomplishments and the completion of an endless to-do list.

Too often, I wholeheartedly buy into that lie. I frantically compose to-do lists and furiously try to check off items. The achiever in me screams loudly that I can’t be enough until I do this and that. Funny thing is, even after I complete the “this and that,” I’ve found that the voice continues to proclaim that it’s not enough. And so, an endless cycle is fed.

Thank goodness the lies of that voice aren’t true, though.

Without doing anything, I have value. I am enough. If we’re honest here, those are difficult statements for me to swallow. If do not have to do anything, where should my focus lie?

“Perhaps it is time that all of us take a few steps back and redefine ‘success’ not in terms of accomplishments but in terms of values. What do you value most in life, and how do you nurture these values through your daily routine of choices and decisions?” - James Shelley

The focus must lie in the being. Do I know who I am? Do I embrace my personal values? Actions ought to overflow simply as an expression of being, not as justification for being. The most successful day may very well be that one in which I didn’t do anything remarkably noteworthy but completely embraced simplicity. We, of course, long to ask -- what exactly did I do that day, then?

It doesn’t matter.

The embrace of a personal value is what matters. The being is enough. And, focusing on the being instead of the doing leads to the life of greater joy.

mood board

effortlessly

From this perch where I’m writing, I’m watching a guy eating at True Food.

The waiter asks him if he’d like another drink.

My mind immediately jumps to its own conclusions – Those True Food specialty drinks are pricey and certainly don’t come with free refills. That’s gonna set you back another chunk, dude. Obviously, you don’t need another. I mean, how is something you can down that quickly possibly worth that cost.

And you know what he effortlessly said? Yes.

And, on top of that, he’d like to try a different one.

The waiter tells him a recommendation of his own favorite popular selection, with no additional description. It’s the guy’s first time eating there, and based on my observations he definitely did not study that menu carefully enough to know what the drink consists of.

But, you know what he said equally as effortlessly? Sounds great.

Seriously, dude? You don’t even know what that drink is. What if it doesn’t perfectly align with your own tastes? Then you are down another x amount of money.

Then I hault my own train of thoughts. I decide I like the way this guy lives. He doesn’t have to get uptight about each and every decision. Maybe it’s cause he’s rolling in the dough, but I don’t get that sense. Instead, I just get the sense that he’s okay with living life in a more relaxed state. Take note, and follow his lead, I tell myself.

[disclaimer: this post was actually written the afternoon the other day, so in actuality this dude is not eating at the odd hour of 9:26 pm]

freak out

I just caught myself in the midst of one of those freak out moments. Panicked, I led myself to believe I had no choices. See, I’m looking for housing and the manager of a building of interest is using his best sales tactics. These are the units available, he says. Oh, and by the way, I’m showing them in like an hour, so they won’t last long.

This kind of talk results in freak out on my end. My mind becomes a ridiculous flurry of thoughts. What if I don’t act fast enough? What if someone signs on these units? Act immediately! This may be the best option. If you don’t act fast enough, there may be absolutely no other units available in LA that you will want to live in.

Then, a steady voice enters my mind. Hello, Caprice. You are being incredibly ridiculous in this moment. If you aren’t ready to sign right now – don’t. If the units all get leased – oh well. After all, there are only some odd 50 million places to live in LA. Something will work out.

You may call it the voice of reason. Amazing authors I’ve been reading (ie. Dan Baker, Seth Godin) tell me this is the voice of my neocortex, the home of my intellect. It has the power to drown out the instinctual reptilian brain that initially floods my mind with the ridiculous aforementioned fearful thoughts.

The beautiful thing that I noticed is that the things I’m reading and studying are starting to sink in. See, I actually recognized the voice of my neocortex and allowed it to drive my spirit instead of the fear. And what resulted? A sense of calm and a realization that I can move through life with a spirit of joy, if only I choose to do so.