While reminiscing Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, I came across this attribution ‘La Dolce Far Niente’ mentioned in the word meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing.

I pondered on what it means for our very busy lives. So busy, that in fact “I am busy” has become a status symbol. Busier and occupied you are, the more important person you are for the world. It is so much deeply penetrated that this constant mind-boggling “state of doing” is not spared even on vacations where we go with a to-do list.

We are surrounded by many people who take pride when they pronounce “I am working this weekend”, or “I am going on vacation, but I will be connected, so if needed any help just ping me anytime.”

That’s why this phrase “sweetness of doing nothing” stuck to my mind.

But, doing nothing is not easy. At the end of the day, we want to be productive and get work done. That’s why we consume ourselves with being busy all the time. Meetings, emails, phone calls, text messages, instant messaging, commuting, and multi-tasking have all become an integral part of our lives. But are we getting anything meaningful and substantial by doing things that make us busy?

We indeed live in a world that views doing nothing as indolence. But doing nothing is not about being passive. It is about being still and self. It is a ‘state of being’. A moment so blissful and joyous that you are not looking forward to anything else. Except for the stillness.

‘State of Being’ is beyond mindfulness. It adds and embodies a deep sense of meaningfulness to mindfulness. To be in a state of being means the activity you are doing is mindfully chosen and concentrated at.

But it is not easy it appears here. The state of being is increasingly difficult because you are constantly filling clutter into the physical, mental, and psychological spaces you are surrounded with.

The moment you start doing nothing, you start working towards the meaning of life. Our existing state is not to be doing nothing, but to be in constant motion and seek something which can connect us with the bigger cosmic energies and cosmos. The very meaning in your life is added when you look up at the stars and wonder what they are, and how they got there. By doing so, you add to your meaning by giving the Universe a meaning. Because the meaning of life is to constantly ask questions and keep striving it. Is‎n’t it? Think. Contemplate. Reflect.

To attain that constant motion, the first step is to be still and reflect for a while, i.e. by pursuing the art of doing nothing. Let gravity be given that freedom to pull us down and take us away by detaching ourselves from external voices that are not allowing the inner voice to make its presence.

The art of doing nothing can transform your life by making you more centered and confident about who you are. You will be more compassionate and mindful of yourself and others. You will be grateful for every moment of your life. And you will be happier because you are more grateful and content from within.

But creation also emerges out of nothingness. Creation is born out of nothingness and completes a circle by ending it to nothingness.

For the last several days, I am allowing myself to give more choice to be in a state of being and to experience the sweetness of nothingness. To be able to “create” from this nothing space, I am making, exploring, seeking, and making available for myself.

So, from next time when someone asks you – “so what do you do?”, we can take a long blissful breath, and proudly pronounce… “I am pursuing the art of doing nothing.” Are you?