We all have things to get done! Most of us need to work, eat, solve problems, network, fix things, clean, work out, and more.

“Doing” reflects traditional models of success—productivity and progress through tasks, activities, or actions that drive toward an intended outcome. It’s about hitting goals and achieving ambitions. There is no high performance, championships, or medals without doing!

But overdoing leads to overwhelm and burnout. It triggers our emotions when we lack the capacity to step back, process what we see, and separate ourselves from it. This makes it harder to act based on our desired outcomes, rather than reacting to emotional triggers. Overdoing can lead to disconnection, loneliness, and feeling lost. And it’s hard to “do” your way out of it.

Conversely, “being” is about presence, mindfulness, self-awareness, and an accepting observance of the moment. Being allows us to embrace each moment, become aware of our emotional triggers, and act without judgment, aligned with our desired impact.

What’s your score?

What percentage of your time would you estimate is spent on doing versus being?

On a scale of 1–10, how does that balance feel? (10 = incredible, 1 = terrible)

There’s no right or wrong answer. We need both doing and being in our lives. The key question is: what blend feels more harmonious to you? What balance would shift your score to an 8/10 or higher? That’s the sweet spot we want to be living in.

If doing drives success, being promotes significance. With harmony, we experience more inner peace and freedom. It enables us to infuse more of our best selves, in alignment with our impact, into the areas of life that matter most to us. It also allows us to let go in other areas, give ourselves grace, and release some of the performance pressure. In short, harmony is living on purpose.

Ask any Olympian on the podium, and they’ll tell you about the importance of both doing and being. When I was a high-performing athlete 20 years ago (ouch!) for the USA National Rugby Team, I was all about doing. I was trying to do more than everyone else—working a full-time banking job in NYC, training three mornings before work and six evenings after, buying a house, getting married. I was pushing for an extra mile, an extra rep, to find my edge and focus on my strengths.

The problem was, I wasn’t being—I wasn’t paying attention to my mental health. It held me back on the field and kept me from reaching my potential at that level. It also affected my presence in other areas of my life. The point is: to fulfill my true potential, I needed both doing and being.

Fast forward to today—I do my job, and I love it. Why? Because of the amount of time I get to “be” within it. When I’m coaching, facilitating, or speaking, I’m 100% present, aware, observing, and in the moment. I’m passionate, engaging, dynamic, authentic, and compassionate. These states of being allow me to reframe people’s perspectives and inspire them to do more of what matters, less of what doesn’t, and to keep growing on their journey. (I call this “ultimate self.”)

We all have the chance to “be” in our roles in life. At work, we can be leaders, directors, managers, maybe even coaches. At home, we can be partners, parents, friends, or confidants. In the community, we can be volunteers, leaders, or coaches. You get the point, but here’s the important part: how are you doing at being in those roles? What’s the blend between driving things forward and being present, mindful, and aware of your impact along the way?

“In today’s rush, we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just being.” —Eckhart Tolle

For most of us, living on purpose is about blending more being into our doing. Every role we choose to play is an opportunity to infuse our purpose, which brings more excitement, fulfillment, and happiness as we align our passions with our impact on others.

Purpose is both progressive and present. It’s about living intentionally at the intersection of our passions and our impact. A purpose statement, as we draft them at PurposeFused, includes what we’re “doing” at our best (doing), how we uniquely bring that to life (being), and the meaningful difference it makes (impact). Here’s one of my favorite examples:

“Uniting thinkers and dreamers through an intrinsic smile that drives collective action.”

• Uniting = what (doing)
• Intrinsic smile = how (being)
• Collective action = impact

[As an aside: Anyone who wants to critique Gen Z—this is one of many examples of their unique value, if their leaders can unearth and nurture it!]

But just like us, purpose can’t live in a vacuum. It needs a where, what, and how to guide it forward. You can learn more on our website about the One Page Purpose, which provides the meaning, clarity, and direction people need to put their purpose into practice.

“The mind is like water. When it’s turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.” —Prasad Mahes

A One Page Purpose is like looking into a crystal-clear, freshwater lake. You can see yourself, the bottom, the life in the water, and a perfect reflection of the world around you.

Another key to living our purpose is practicing self-reflection, building self-awareness, and committing to self-care.

This may start with fundamentals like nutrition, sleep, and exercise—we can’t build vitality without these being right. From there, most of us know what we need to do, and there’s no shortage of information to guide us. The challenge is, we might be less attuned to how we should be.

So, if you want to boost your “being” and find the right harmony for you, here are a few things to try.

These ideas aren’t new, but ask yourself: how present or committed have you been to any of them?

Just pick ONE that feels right for you. Write out the smallest step you can take to repeat it frequently. Try it out. In two weeks, write down how you feel. From there, maybe you can do more of this or try something else.

• Mindfulness Meditation: Set aside time each day for mindfulness, NSDR, or meditation practices to cultivate present-moment awareness and reduce stress.
• Deep Breathing Exercises: Practice deep breathing techniques to center yourself and promote relaxation throughout the day.
• Mindful Eating: Focus on the experience of eating by savoring each bite, noticing the flavors, and eating slowly.
• Digital Detox: Take breaks from screens and social media to reconnect with yourself and your surroundings.
• Journaling: Regularly write about your thoughts and feelings to enhance self-awareness and reflection, or doodle, sketch, and create in the same notebook. See what flows out.
• Nature Walks: Spend time in nature to ground yourself and appreciate the present moment—tune into all your senses.
• Active Listening: Practice listening attentively in conversations, clearing your mind and being fully present to absorb every word.
• Self-Care Rituals: Incorporate activities that resonate with you, like reading, playing an instrument, listening to music, or other hobbies that promote joy and relaxation.
• Gratitude Practice: Regularly reflect on and write down what you’re grateful for to foster a positive mindset. As you may know, it’s impossible to be stressed and grateful at the same time.
• Block Free Time: Allocate time in your schedule for unstructured activities where you can simply be without specific goals or tasks. Fill it with any of the above!