Human Doings VS. Human Beings

Are we human doings?  Or are we human beings?  We often mistake the doing for being.  Yes, we do a lot and we have a lot to accomplish every day but if we let the doing decide who we are we lose the opportunity to decide who we want to be.  This is what distinguishes us from all other species on earth.  We have the conscious ability to choose.  Choice is what makes us human beings. 

The tasks will always be there, the Haitian Proverb says, “Behind this mountain is another mountain.”  So, if the doing will always be there, the question becomes who you will be while you are doing.  Who will we aspire to be as we build and grow and accomplish, and, sometimes, fail? The being is what defines us. 

How do we get clear on who we want to be?

The first step is to look at your life when you were happiest.  Who were you being in those moments, loving, carefree, determined, focused?  Only you can really answer that question. 

Once you’ve pinpointed your happy successful times, you can begin to tap into those emotions and feelings again and invest in them. When you’re aware of those feelings, you can then set the intentions for your day, for this meeting, for this time at home, wherever, whenever based on those feelings.  For example, going into an executive meeting you can decide: I am calm, I am curious, I am focused.  This will lay out the pathways in your brain to be these things. 

When left to default mindset, we will be what every human is at default – protective, defensive, judgmental, focused on survival. So be a proactive force focused on thriving.  Use your thoughts and determine your being. Decide rather than succumb.  Be rather than do.