Why It's Important to Let Go of Busyness
Catholic philosopher Thomas Merton said: “There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence… (and that is) activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form of violence, perhaps the most common form of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence.”
Thomas Merton wrote the above over 50 years ago and it’s more true today than it was when he wrote it. Western society, in particular, wears busyness as a badge of honor. How hard is it to say no to new projects or new activities for the kids? What if you focused on the few things that really mattered? Diving deep into one major project to make it the best it could be is extremely fulfilling. You don’t need to have a million different things going on to add value to your family and community. While it feels good to complete tasks, we can start to think we need to do these tasks in order to be valued. In reality, we can’t help everyone who needs it and we can’t be involved with everything going on.
Part of this problem is the fear of saying “no.” We believe we will hurt someone’s feelings or our boss will get mad. The truth is, people will respect you more if you tell them the truth and on those occasions you say “yes”, they will know you mean it and you will put your full attention to the work at hand. We all strive to please, but if you try to please everyone, you please no one, which will only lead to resentment.
Another reason we struggle with saying “no” comes from a fear of missing out. For example, you may feel if you don’t say “yes” to this project, you might be missing your big break. It is important to say “yes” more often early in your career to gain experience and exposure. This will help you figure out what you are good at and enjoy. However, you must cut with a vengeance later on. Focus on the few projects that will provide the biggest impact and give yourself time to do the deep work. When trying to figure out what to say “yes” to, ask yourself: “Is this the most important thing I can be doing right now?”
How would your life be different if you let go of the need to feel busy? What if you cut away the non-essential activities and focused on the ones you truly loved? How much better could you be? When your attention is split between too many opportunities, none of them get what they deserve. We are only human and can’t always be going. We must take breaks and allow ourselves to just be.
Call To Action
At Symmetry, we help busy people take back control of their lives so they have more time, more energy, and less stress! If you’re ready to take back control of your life, set-up a FREE 15-minute call today! We are currently offering virtual breath classes to help you begin to experience the benefits of breath. You can access our schedule here. Our programs will improve your mindset, your performance, and give you tools to better handle the stresses of everyday life. Check out our website www.symmetry.live to find out more information.
