THE GUILT OF JUST BEING

Do you ever suddenly catch yourself feeling guilty for not doing anything?

We hear about the importance of being before doing.

But so many of us grew up in religious cultures that demanded constant holy activity, including attending church meetings, reading the bible, praying, witnessing, fellowshipping, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Now, for many of us, those activities have vanished from our lives.

What do we do now?

Read a book? Scroll our favorite social media? Watch a show? Go for a walk? Meditate? Nap? Nothing?

But do we do these things with a slight sense of guilt with a voice that says, “Shouldn’t you be doing something?”

I know the pressure to perpetually perform is everywhere.

But religion makes it ultimately and infinitely necessary for eternal life.

I’m learning that it’s just okay to do just nothing. Nothing.

And I’m not going to feel guilty for it.

There’s nothing to punish.

And there’s no one to punish us… or no one who would.