Do you ever feel torn between wanting to make things happen and wanting to just let go? That is, between the urge to take action and the desire to surrender and let the Universe take care of everything? It is quite the conundrum because the ego-mind always wants to feel in control, but something deeper within wants to release emotions or situations and simply be.
Rather than picking one or the other, which can create internal conflicts and resistance, it is possible to integrate this inner tug-of-war by consciously choosing to find the stillness behind every desire and every action. This is a place of neutrality where there is no contradiction and any conflict disappears because we embrace all-there-is and all-that-we-are without judgment.
Perhaps, like me, you’ve found that the old ways of pushing no longer work, and yet, complete surrender feels like you’re losing direction. But the truth lies beyond both, in the stillness that brings about all movement—the I-am-ness or sense of existence that aligns you with life itself. This is your center. This is where your true Self abides, where you find peace and insight.
From this center or stillness, there is no struggle between doing and not doing because there is no sense of separation or exclusion. Here, action becomes non-action, or action without ego, in the effortless flow of being, where you become the Witness rather than a doer. Life turns into a fascinating journey of self-discovery, and every experience becomes both a mirror of and a pathway into yourself.
But how do you get there?
Stillness Moves Everything From Within
Stillness is not the opposite of action; it is the ground from which all action emerges. It is the eternal, Pure Awareness bearing witness to all action happening on its own. However, accessing it requires a purification of the mind. If you remove the idea of effort, fear, or attachment, you begin to observe that life unfolds through and for you. You gain insight through self-reflection or a spiritual path, as you remove the egoic sense of separation.
For instance, on the path of devotion (bhakti yoga), you surrender your desires and attachments to the Divine, trusting that everything is what it’s supposed to be and you are always taken care of. On the path of service in action (karma yoga), you serve the Divine by serving others and relinquishing the fruit of your actions. It is another way to remove the self-centered idea of being a doer.
Likewise, the path of spiritual discipline (raja yoga) offers techniques (meditation, mantra, breathing, etc.) to purify the mind and eventually dissolve the ego-sense through transcendental states. Finally, the path of wisdom (jnana yoga) paves the way back to the eternal Self through self-knowledge—the inquiry into the nature of the ego-mind, which gradually dissolves it.
These paths often overlap, leading you to the same destination. When you detach from the external world to rest in Awareness, you watch life unfolding through your body and mind while knowing that you are not your body or mind, so you no longer need to control or avoid things. Rather than reacting, you respond in the moment, guided by the light of Awareness. You are a vehicle—not the one controlling anything, but the one observing it.
This effortless action or non-action is not passivity or inertia but harmony with what is. It is movement without resistance. It is stillness of the mind, so there is no judgment or opposition; it moves in alignment with all of life, all of you—the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects (see How Loving Life Unconditionally Can Bring Inner Peace and Joy).
Learning To Flow With Life
Even on the spiritual path, the ego can turn spirituality into another form of “doing.” It wants you to meditate “properly,” surrender perfectly, or attain enlightenment quickly, pushing the belief that you should be way ahead of where you are. But awakening is not something to achieve; it emerges spontaneously as you develop detachment and discrimination to recognize your false, outdated beliefs.
As the illusion of doership fades, you see that everything has been happening by itself. The body breathes, thoughts arise, emotions flow, and the world turns without your saying. You cannot control how life unfolds, but you can manage your attention and energy to transform your perception.
To live beyond action and non-action is not about doing less or more; it’s about knowing who is the real director of your experience. When you redirect your attention inward to know yourself, you disbelieve and dissolve the mental fluctuations that cause obstacles and struggles. Then you realize that life is love and everything emerges from love in some form. Yes, your pain, too.
Take a moment to pause.
Let your breath settle into its natural rhythm, and feel the stillness behind each inhale and exhale. Notice how life continues breathing, pulsing, and moving spontaneously, without your effort. This is the same stillness that moves the Universe, just like a magnet moves metal pieces from a distance.
When you begin to live from this space, life becomes less about what you must do or not do, and more about being what you truly are: Pure Awareness expressing itself in human form.
So, contact me today to dissolve the patterns that keep you in the past, identified with the sense of separation and deficiency produced by the ego-mind that causes conflicts and suffering. These challenging times demand great emotional and spiritual freedom, and I can help you develop them to transform the world by transforming your perception.
P.S. If you’re not ready to work with me as your spiritual mentor to delve deeply within, you can learn about the workings of the ego-mind to transform your perception and experience by implementing the Swan Method I share in You Are Your Healer: The Ultimate Guide to Heal Your Past, Transform Your Life & Awaken to Your True Self!
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