You're Already "Being" – No Training Needed

Imagine you want to go for a walk. Do you need to go to "walking school" first? Of course not! You already know how to walk. It's the same with "being."

Being ourselves, simply existing, doesn't require any special training or preparation. We're all born "fully equipped" to just be.

What Does "Being" Mean?
It's the most basic, simple thing there is. Think about it. Right now, are you experiencing being alive? Yes. Everyone on Earth is "being" all the time. It's like breathing, you don't have to try to do it, you just do it. It's the feeling of "I am."

Why Don't We Always Notice It?

If it's so easy and natural, why isn't everyone walking around feeling totally "being" all the time? 

It's because our minds are so busy. We're constantly thinking, feeling, remembering, imagining, and talking. All these thoughts and feelings are like layers covering up the simple fact of our "being." It's like looking at a beautiful lake, but it's covered with lily pads and leaves. You know the lake is there, but you can't see the clear water because of all the stuff on top.

What About Other Practices?

Many people do things like meditation or mindfulness exercises. These are valuable, and if you like them, keep doing them. They can help you focus your attention and quiet your mind. However, don't think of them as "training" to be. You're already being. These practices just help you notice and appreciate the "being" that's already there, by helping you clear away some of those distracting layers of thought and feeling.

The Only "Effort"

One type of effort might be helpful. It's not the effort to be, because you already are. The effort is simply to pull your attention away from all the busy thoughts and feelings. It's like gently moving those lily pads aside to see the clear water of the lake. Once you do that, you can simply rest in the natural state of just "being."

Being isn't some fancy, spiritual, or mysterious thing. It's the most ordinary, familiar experience there is.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by your thoughts or the world around you, remember...you're already doing the most important thing, you're being. You don't need to learn how, you just need to notice it.

"We are not human doings, we are human beings." -Kurt Vonnegut

Posted by Steve