One of the most important sets of polarities that we need to develop and balance is the polarity between the “being” and “doing” energies. Most of us are identified with one of these energies and disown the other. The two types could be called the “doers” or and the “be-ers”. They roughly correspond to Type A and Type B personality types.
– Shakti Gawain, Living In The Light
Doing
Living in modern society, it’s hard not to be overly identified with the energy of “Type A”. We live in a world of hustle, can’t-stop-won’t-stop, and ever-accumulating deadlines. “Doing” energy is most identified with Type A behaviors such as being action-oriented, ambitious, able to take risks, and competitive. The downside of being overly identified with Doing energy is difficulty receiving, discomfort with feeling vulnerable, and the inability to DO NOTHING. Very driven people find a challenge in simply relaxing + doing nothing.
Our nature is to seek balance, so our Inner Wisdom will let us know when we are overly identified with our Doing energy. “If you are primarily a doer, your intuition will almost surely lead you in the direction of doing less. Your feelings will tell you to stop, to relax, to take a day off to spend time in nature with no plan and now, and just practice following the energy as you feel it.“
Being
Shakti Gawain talks about Be-ers as “mainly oriented toward inner attunement. They know how to relax and take it easy. They enjoy the subtle pleasure of life and often know how to nurture themselves and others, and how to play”.
However, we don’t want to become overly identified with “Being” either. While Type Bers are flexible and able to enjoy downtime, they may struggle with taking action, holding themselves back, and difficulty expressing feelings + opinions. When imbalanced, we’ll be guided into more action, more expression, and more risk-taking in the world.
Balanced
Doers are expressing an overly developed male, active energy while Be-ers express the same with their female, receptive energy. We will vacillate between these energies throughout life, but our job is to bring more harmony between “Being” and “Doing”. There’s a time to strategize and have an active schedule, but also time to relax and have unstructured time.
You have to trust that your intuition will guide you towards balance. Listen to your inner voice and follow the inner impulses that guide you to do things outside of your comfort zone. You’re realigning ✨
Power of Retreat
Many ambitious women suffer from the need to be on a nonstop productivity loop. When we recognize this pattern, we have to pause + consciously choose to take a step back. We have to create space and time for ourselves. No matter if for 10 minutes, a weekend, or a full month — there is immense power in retreating from your external commitments. In doing so, you’re creating a break from the noise of daily life and you’re better able to hear your inner thoughts + intuition.
I went off the grid for a weekend creative retreat in Joshua Tree and am feeling so inspired/electric! Doing NOTHING is a powerful tool for clarity + creativity. I over-identify with Doing energy and I know I’m not alone. Some girlfriends and I took a step back from reality and headed to the desert. We found peace and inspiration simply by being disconnected and in nature. We stepped out of our comfort zones + wifi and were able to be fully present and just. do. nothing.
You don’t have to go away to retreat — you can create a break in your own space with our Fierce Reset: Virtual Retreat.
Go Deeper
If you want to go a bit deeper, find your own sense of “BEING” by listening to our Meditation for Women in celebration of International Women’s Day. You can also find more info in Living In The Light by Shakti Gawain.
