March 14: Master the beauty of doing nothing
“Italians are the masters of Il bel far niente. This is a sweet expression that means, the beauty of doing nothing. Italians have traditionally always been hard workers. . . But even against the backdrop of hard work , Il bel far niente has always been a cherished Italian ideal. The beauty of doing nothing is the goal of all your work, the final accomplishment for which you are most highly congratulated. The more exquisitely and delightfully you can do nothing, the higher your life’s achievement. . . Anyone with a talent for happiness can do this, not only the rich.”
Elizabeth Gilbert
While you see yourself as human “doings” rather than human “beings”, it may seem impossible to take the time to actually sit and relax without feeling guilty. There is beauty and true balance in doing nothing. There is great achievement in taking generous breaks from hard work that will benefit your well-being. If you must, plan well for these moments in time to rejuvenate your soul. Make it a priority to set aside time from the busyness to enjoy time, go on vacation or to reconnect with loved ones. As Italians are historically great masters, by imitating their example to strive for doing nothing as the final goal for which you are to be congratulated, your life will change for the better. A life of balance is a beautiful thing. While hard work is to be applauded, if you fail to enjoy its rewards by taking the time to do nothing and rest, you will never recharge to be inspired in important ways. To master Il bel far niente, you delightfully open yourself up to a more satisfying, stress free life. When you embrace this reward for your achievements, you truly have won life’s lottery!
Magical Key to Bliss: Plan a short vacation where you do nothing every three months for the next year.
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