We Are Human Beings, Not Human Doings
A Reflection on Presence and Mind-Body Healing
This topic has been coming up a lot for me lately, in my mentorship groups, talks with friends, in my meditation and journal entries, etc.
It is the truth that we are Human Beings, not Human Doings.
When We Live in Constant Doing Mode
Many of us live our lives as if the opposite is true. We do, do, do. We rush. Stack tasks. Measure our worth by our productivity or how much “we got done.”
I think we are constantly forgetting to pause long enough to actually feel the life we are living.
Somewhere along the way, “being alive” became synonymous with “being productive.”
And the cost is subtle but devastating; we stop experiencing the very things we say we enjoy. The time with our kids, the time spent on vacation, the time spent doing the jobs we “love.” (Just to name a few).
Presence Is Where the Mind-Body Connection Happens
Don’t forget, enjoyment requires presence.
Presence requires slowness.
Slowness requires permission.
And permission requires remembering that we are allowed to simply be.
Most of us never pause long enough to enjoy “it.” Life, breath, sunlight on the wall, the warmth of a mug, the softness of our own body settling into a chair, the favorite song that came on the radio, the dog’s cuddle or the kids’ laughter.
We keep waiting for the moment when we will finally “feel it,” all while not realizing that the feeling only arrives when we stop “doing” long enough to let it land.
(This is where a lot of somatic therapy and mind-body healing work begins, by slowing down enough to notice what is already there.)
Slowing Down Supports Nervous System Regulation
To enjoy something, we have to be with it.
To savor our life, we have to inhabit it.
To feel joy, we have to slow down enough for joy to catch up.
Choosing to Be Instead of Constantly Doing
Like I said, this is a topic that's been coming up and I have been heavily reflecting on it over the last couple of months.
I don’t want to just do the things I enjoy. I want to be the person who can feel them.
I want to be someone who notices, breathes, and lets the moment touch me before I move on.
Because Being is the most human thing we can do.
A Gentle Reminder
So with that being said, don’t forget to be more, and do less.
Support for Slowing Down and Reconnecting
If you're feeling stuck in constant doing and disconnected from your body, this is often where holistic counseling and somatic therapy can help you slow down and reconnect. Take the first step.
Meet Mallory
Mallory Tedrick is a holistic mental health therapist offering somatic therapy and mind-body healing for individuals feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected. Her work focuses on helping clients slow down, reconnect with their nervous system, and build a deeper sense of awareness and presence through a compassionate, integrative approach. Mallory offers sessions in Rocky River, Ohio and virtually, supporting clients throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.