Be. Do. You.

  For many of us, we operate from a “Do. Be.” framework. For example, if I do this, I will be that. If I do this, I will have that then I will be a certain way.  We may think, if I make more money, then I will be able to have the things I want and then I will be happy. Or, if I change jobs, then I will be more fulfilled. Or, if I go on a diet, then I will lose weight and then I will be healthier. While none of the above examples (and you can think of your own that are applicable to your life) are “wrong,” the approach sets us up for waiting for the thing to happen to be the way we want to be.

    I suggest that a softer, kinder, and applicable moment by moment approach is “Be. Do.” In this approach, we can think of how we want to be - kind, open, loving, joyful, healthy, content, aware, satisfied, etc. Then, we can make choices and act in ways that are in accordance with how we want to be. “Does this choice support my health, my kindness, my openess…?”

    If we want to be healthy, we can remember to ask when we make food choices if the choice supports our health. We may still choose to eat unhealthy food but we do so knowing that it does not support our health in the way we want to experience it. When we do that, we are creating awareness and this awareness can illuminate the ways in which our actions are not aligned with our intention for a healthy body.

    Another element of this approach, or technique, is to take some time and contemplate how you want to be. When you land into one of the ways you want to be, for example, peaceful, imagine yourself as peaceful - see the detail of your body, your actions, your mind, explore the feelings of being peaceful - perhaps you feel content, free, open, aware, calm. Perhaps you see yourself behaving kindly toward others, helpful, intentional. Being able to see yourself how you want to be is an important part of the process as it fosters motivation to make the choices that align with your vision. Then when faced with a choice, it is easier to choose that which supports how you want to be. In the process, you are already in the being!

This can work with anything! 

    If you try it, I’d love to hear how it goes. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know.