Word of the Week: Just Be

The word of the week is to Just Be. Be here. To just simply be without agenda, just immersing in the realness of the present moment.

Have you ever thought about just how many thoughts run through your mind on any given day? With us moms, I can see the answers in unison: far too many. endless. lots.

Lately, I have been thinking so much about the actual feeling of being present in the moment, being open to what is actually around me instead of reacting to the thoughts in my head.

What does “Just Be” mean actually?

When I look at my kids and think about how I interact with them on a daily basis, I am quickly grounded. I realize that how there is always a time to beat, a task to finish, and a routine to complete.

There is this mental image of how a day should be: finish your meal, let’s be on time, learn this, learn that. My mind is always racing to achieve an idea of an ideal day. And I am always trying to achieve something.

One cold snowy day, after giving up waiting for a late school bus, I took my girls home, told them to wear cozy pajamas and made them hot chocolate.

Suddenly the idea of just being present with my girls, just being there without the need to achieve anything seemed very enticing. It is something that I actually miss doing.

Just BE.

To Be is to immerse in the actual moment. Not every moment is a moment to teach or to parent. Instead, lean more towards being in the moment.
To Be is stillness and mental quiet so you can open yourself to what is actually happening around you.
To Be is to allow difficult moments to be difficult, and joyful moments to be joyful. To be at peace with what is, knowing that all is a cycle, and all is well.
To Be is to just be what you are and do what you do in the present without the agenda of becoming something or achieving something.

What about Goals?

Now, this is not to say that goals should be diminished from your life. I love goals. Goals give me confidence and drive.

But I think there is beauty in slipping right into the moment when you do something, actually enjoying it rather than thinking that you are doing something for the fulfillment that it will give to you in the future.

I just try to have moments of Being. When I need to slay the day, I will.

But I think to “Just Be” is most important right now with my kids and my relationships. Like I don’t need to turn everything into a teaching opportunity. My kids are happier when I am present, when I am a friend and not somebody who always want to shape them and correct them.

Also read: How to Cope with Mom Burnout.

Try to Just Be for a Week and See What Happens

When I drop the excessive need for achieving, running after, and beating the day, I feel more space within me. I feel more open, soft, and calm.
I am more loving. I can look into my husband’s and kids’ eyes when we communicate. I connect more deeply when my mind is not running after the many thoughts in my head.
I am actually more productive. With a clear head and a mind that is not so much geared to thinking fast forward, I can think efficiently.

Lastly here is a quote from Eckhart Tolle.

”When you are present, when your attention is fully in the Now, Presence will flow into and transform what you do. There will be a quality and power in it.
Eckhart Tolle