Do Nothing and Be Grateful

Today’s Quote addressed doing nothing. As I mentioned, I have trouble doing nothing. I can mediate which is a form of doing nothing, I guess, but otherwise, I have had to move. I have ‘to do’. My Toodledo List (an app on my iPhone which I highly suggest) has 32 items on it right now.

And this is at a low time. I feel that if I am not doing something, and I have a list this long, I need to be doing something. I do realize this is not the case, but I still find it difficult not doing anything.

Does anyone have suggestions for remaining still and not doing anything? I could use the help! Thanks.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

Note: This blog post was updated on March 19, 2018.

7 Comments

  1. Kathy Parkerton on March 28, 2010 at 10:38 am

    Hey Paul…. I have trouble with that too. The best I’ve ever done at doing nothing is when I’ve gotten acupuncture. You have to lie very still in a darkened room and not move for a chunk of time.

  2. Paul on March 28, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    @Kathy Parkerton
    Hi Kathy – Thanks for reminding me of that – I have had the same experience with acupuncture. I must say – I always left relaxed after each session. Be Well.

  3. Marilyn Earl on March 28, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    Hey Paul,
    I really enjoy your post to my inbox.. I, like you, have a hard time just doing nothing. When you find out how to do that, please let me know. I am so busy that it isn’t even funny. I am so thankful that my husband understands.

  4. Cat Sinclair on March 29, 2010 at 7:38 am

    You’re confusing doing nothing with exploring yourself. When you are truly meditating, you aren’t doing nothing, you are tuning in to your inner self. As for how to focus and stop moving, just concentrate on your breathing. If it helps, light a candle and watch the flame. Or do your meditation right before bed and again, focus on your breathing. I’d say clear your mind, but that’s not really the point either. Let thoughts drift by, acknowledge them, then let them pass. Even those thoughts of “I should be doing something else”, just acknowledge it and let it pass. Listen for your heart beat.It is much harder to still yourself at first, but like anything it gets easier when practiced. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do it well at first. You didn’t learn baseball or golf right away either. Practice makes perfect. 🙂 Good luck.

  5. Melissa Smith on March 29, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Paul, being related to you I can attest to your comments about not being able to sit still or even “Rest in Place”. Our family is known for being always on the go. To the point we start many, many projects and at the end of the day not many have been completed. Sometimes on a rainy day, like today, I tell myself I’m going to sit down and read my book that I started weeks ago, but then I have my grandchildren here with me so know it is impossible. Did you ever wish it would rain so you couldn’t do anything and had to stay inside?

  6. loretta on March 28, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    I’ve been never known to be able to do nothing. I always find something to do

    • Paul on April 8, 2018 at 7:27 pm

      Consciously doing nothing is still doing something.

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