Nothing Is As Powerful As This...

"And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.

And he answered saying:

Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.

But your ears thirst for the sounds of your heart's knowledge.

You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.

You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams."

_____________

I breathed a deep sigh of content.

The grass felt prickly on my legs as the wind slowly pushed the leaves of the trees...

A slow dance of exultation.

I strained my eyes to look above me...

Past my arms, out to the sky behind.

The sun was bright - glistening across a field of low cut grass with not a cloud to block its light.

I curled my hands underneath the back of my head and felt my body relax into the ground. I wasn't tired. Nor did I have an abundance of energy.

I spotted a bird sitting high on one of the branches...

It sang its gentle call. The waves of the sound floated on the wind.

I was laying underneath a tree. The same one I did as often as I could.

The small tree that sat on the hill right in front of the long driveway to my family's horse farm.

This was decades ago.

And yet, the memory sits with me still, every time I allow myself the space to breathe.

Why?

I didn't know it then, but I do now...

I was practicing the art of not-doing.

______________

When was the last time you did nothing?

I don't mean "nothing" as in...

Watching Netflix.

Journaling.

Meditating.

Practicing an instrument.

Or even walking in nature.

I mean...

When was the last time you did nothing except enjoy the present moment?

Answer honestly.

For most — it would be difficult to say.

As adults, we're often full of tasks, to-do lists, meetings to attend...

And we balance these stresses with meditation, walks in nature, reading at the beach, consuming alcohol or other substances, exercise, and other forms of relaxation.

While these can be powerful tools, you're still doing something.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be?

Again, for most, the thought of doing nothing, and then *gasp* telling someone you spent a couple of hours by yourself doing absolutely nothing...

Would be unthinkable.

It'd be weird.

Unheard of.

But it's one of the most powerful ways to reconnect with your heart and your soul.

Why?

Because it allows you the chance to actually listen to it.

In the book "The Prophet," by Khalil Gibran he explains it perfectly...

"Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights."

This is true...

But we rarely give our heart's the chance to speak.

Instead, we drown them out with television shows, YouTube videos, scrolling on social media, even meditation focuses solely on the mind's worries.

And we collect thoughts in our heads and use them to interact with the world...

Essentially, living our lives through a collective mind...

Instead of our individuals soul's path.

Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly what you wanted?

What you liked and disliked?

What you thought worth your time?

Your life?

You can.

This week (and beyond) — practice the art of not-doing.

Take time to sit underneath a tree and just be.

Go to the beach without your phone and sit in the sand.

Or...

Get comfortable on the couch...

Keep your eyes open. And just sit.

Simple.

Easy.

Powerful.

The more you do, the more you will begin to hear.

And eventually...

You will reconnect to the real voice of your heart.

With just one simple step left...

Follow it.