The Benefits of DOING NOTHING

DR. ICHAK ADIZES is an expert in change management for organizations. Here he shares some thoughts on doing nothing, and how he creates the space to do that through a yogic meditation practice.

- DR. ICHAK ADIZES

Every day in the modern world poses an increasing number of problems and opportunities in our lives. There are so many existing and new opp-or-threats, that we simply don’t have enough time to address them all. We are all busy, and if we slow down for even a second, we feel guilty because “there is so much to do.” But if you stop for an interval of time and do nothing, you might find it has its benefits.

First, doing nothing gives you the time to reminisce; to review what you are doing and analyze whether or not you should continue doing it. You get to see the value, or the futility, of doing something or anything. Doing nothing for a moment is like pulling yourself out of a picture, so that you can see the picture from a different perspective. We all know how difficult it is to see the picture when you are in it.

When you do nothing, you give yourself the opportunity to ask, “Is it time to change?” Filling your time with something to do is a perfect escape from yourself, while doing nothing forces you, sometimes painfully, to face yourself and your concerns.

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon among people who ask for a divorce. I asked them: When did the idea germinate? When was the final decision to make a change “born”? It often happened when the person was on vacation or sick in bed with nothing to do. When you do nothing, you give yourself a chance to review everything.