The Art of Being
Author: Karin Marcus

It seems we have become a nation that honors the human
doers and forgotten the value of simply being humanly
present. We fear that if we are not accomplishing something
every minute, we are wasting our time. We no longer wrestle
with "To be or not to be," but are constantly consumed with
"To do or not to do." Recently, I came across a wonderful
twist to another old saying:"Don't just do something, stand
there!"

Often in tumultuous times, the wisest thing is to be still.
Instead of jumping into the fray, become grounded and
quiet. We don't need to always fix or change things or take
action just for the sake of doing something. Every action
does not require a re-action. Sometimes it is more
important to just acknowledge what is.

If someone is suffering from illness or loss, the greatest
gift you can offer is your compassionate total presence. A
dear friend was very ill. At first I kept offering
sympathetic platitudes such as," You'll feel better
tomorrow" or "It could be much worse." Until finally I
realized she just wanted someone to hold her hand and be
present with her in her pain. An even more powerful
experience is being fully present with someone facing
imminent death. To be a witness to that journey is a
deeply, heartfelt act of love.

As a parent, when we see our children struggling with peer
pressures and society's expectations, the best help we can
give them is the comforting knowledge that we will always
be there for them. The same is true when friends share
their troubles. Often they are not seeking our advice, they
just want someone to witness their struggle and stand by
them.

Nothing is as profoundly healing as a fully present
compassionate human being. Consciously being is the most
valuable act of kindness, empathy, and respect we can give
one another. Learning to BE is an art form not a science.
It is the most intrinsic form of personal expression there
is, for it encapsulates the essence of who you are.

So how can you cultivate the Art of Being? Here are a few
simple tips:

- Slow down and breathe!! Become consciously aware of each
breath. Your inhalation and exhalation is the most
fundamental process through which you intermingle with the
universe. When you want to connect with your true being,
try placing your hands on your heart and feeling each
breath as it gently comes and goes.

- Become a wise observer. Stop and listen with your whole
being, engaging all your senses. Notice the finer details
of what you are seeing, hearing, sensing, and smelling.
Then after consciously looking through the zoom lens,
slowly draw the lens back to gain an ever widening
perspective. Now call upon all your senses again, this time
to observe the big picture in all its glory

- Embrace the present moment. Purposefully, let go of all
preconceived notions and judgments. Drop the 'should
have's' and the 'could have's' and the 'if only's.' Choose
to truly accept what is. Acknowledging that on some level,
perhaps beyond your comprehension, everything is as it is
meant to be.

- Allow the possibilities to unfold. We don't have to be
the primary catalyst for solutions. That is a drastically
limiting belief. We need only to hold the space and allow
the answers to reveal themselves. Fully being present opens
the door for intuition, synchronicity, and grace. The
horizon of possibilities is far broader than our minds can
conceive; we need only to be open and ready to receive.

So remember, "Don't just do something, stand there and BE!"


About the Author:

Karin Marcus, Certified Life Coach / Retreat Leader
"Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do" Rumi
Karin@Steppingoutcoaching.com 610-667-5247
http://www.SteppingOutCoaching.com
Download your complimentary "Walking with Intention: A
Self-Guided Mini Retreat"
http://www.SteppingOutCoaching.com/newsletter.html