The Balance Between Being and Doing
Why mindfulness isn’t about doing less—it’s about showing up more fully.
Do you ever feel like a human “doing” rather than a human being? There was a time in my life when “busy” felt like a badge of honor.
I was efficient. Productive. Always on the move. Even while brushing my teeth or taking a shower, my mind was ticking through to-do lists. I genuinely believed this made me successful. In fact, when someone asked how I was, I’d reflexively answer, “Busy”—as if that were a mark of worth.
What I didn’t realize was that the constant doing was slowly eating away at my sense of ease and well-being.
Are You Living… or Just Doing?
In a world that celebrates hustle, it’s dangerously easy to forget that we are human beings, not just human doings.
We chase deadlines, juggle commitments, and try to squeeze meaning into whatever cracks are left between emails and errands. And yet, so many of us still feel like something’s missing—like we’re moving quickly but not really getting anywhere.
This is where mindfulness gently taps us on the shoulder and says:
Hey. You don’t have to live like this.
Doing with Presence
I used to think mindfulness meant slowing down, doing less. I’ve learned it’s not about that at all.
It’s about how we show up while doing what we do.
Whether you’re washing dishes, leading a meeting, or stuck in traffic, are you there for it?
That’s the heart of mindfulness: showing up. Fully. Without rushing through or mentally checking out.
A Lesson from the Boardroom
I once gave a talk at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. During the Q&A, someone asked, “Will mindfulness lower productivity?”
I smiled and said, “Actually, it increases it.”
The audience looked skeptical, but the research backs it up. Mindfulness improves focus, reduces stress, and leads to better decision-making. I’ve seen this again and again in the organizations I’ve worked with—when people are present, they work better and with more care.
But here’s the thing: productivity is just the side effect. Not the goal.
The real gift of mindfulness isn’t more output. It’s a richer experience of being alive while doing what matters, but what else could I say at the Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Practical Practice: Balancing the Scales
1. Morning Check-In
Each morning (or evening), take 3 quiet minutes.
Ask yourself:
How much of my day is spent doing?
How much space is there for just being?
What would balance look like today?
2. Daily Pause
Catch yourself during the day—maybe while walking, working, or waiting in line—and ask:
Am I in being mode or doing mode right now?
Just this question brings awareness. And awareness brings choice.
3. Rest without Guilt
If you’ve been constantly “on,” carve out 10 minutes today to simply rest. No phone. No productivity. Just breathe. Drink a cup of tea. Look out the window. Be human.
Keep practicing the Guided Body Scan for Healing and Presence on Insight Timer—it’s a powerful way to invite being into your body and your breath.
A Note of Encouragement
There’s nothing wrong with doing. I love doing. I love writing for example.
But when doing becomes compulsive, reactive, or all-consuming, we lose touch with the very part of us that gives meaning to what we do. Mindfulness invites us to bring the being back into our doing.
You don’t have to quit your job or become a monk or a nun. Just pause. Breathe. Notice.
Let your actions be guided not by urgency, but by intention. Let your presence infuse even the smallest tasks with care.
The more you return to being—even in the middle of doing—the more life feels like something you’re living, not just managing.
You are not just a machine. You are not a to-do list.
You are a breathing, sensing, feeling human being. And being is enough.
Want more mindful moments in your week?
Every Monday, I send a reflection and practice like this—grounded, real, and designed to meet you exactly where you are. Subscribe here and walk the path of mindful living with me.
With warmth,
Steven