In a world with outcome-focused capitalism as its driving force,  it’s small wonder that many of us define ourselves by the amount we can ‘produce’. Like factory workers toiling for an invisible boss and an uncertain wage, we keep spinning proverbial looms and firing up metaphorical forges, becoming a slave to doing, doing, doing, and feeling an unhealthy amount of guilt when we ‘down tools’ and take a moment to exist as we are, without any particular focus in mind. But pondering this constant push-pull one evening tucked up in bed, I began to really stretch the definition of ‘purpose’ like a ball of freshly made play dough, and when it snapped back into place the following question came to me: what if purpose is just continuing to have an energetic exchange with the Universe, at whatever level we can manage in the moment? From a single deep breath, to watering our plants, to munching on a salad, to staring out into the middle distance and observing nature’s ebbs and flows.

If the above sounds familiar, it’s likely because I’m not the first to have plucked this idea out of the collective consciousness. Buddhism has espoused the virtues of mindfulness – or being, being, being – for centuries, while philosophers from Ancient Greece put great store in the value of contemplation for contemplation’s sake, while modern-day ponderers like British writer and editor Tom Hodgkinson of The Idler invite us to hark back to a time when life wasn’t all about work and achievement, and there was idling time aplenty to cultivate the soul or just lay back on a hay bale and drink in the wondrousness of life.

But what about earning money you ask? And those life goals we’re constantly striving towards. Admittedly, this is a sticking point, and yes bills must be paid and a general direction taken. But we must also make space for those micro moments, those being states in between, that while may on the surface not ‘add up much’ must be marked and celebrated as we continue to march forward on the journey of life. If you’ve suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety as I have, you’ll berate yourself for days you just needed to lay on the sofa, lock the door, and lie motionless under a blanket. ‘What a waste of time!’ you will most likely have internally chastised. I’m here to tell you that that was being, and that everything you can’t quite chalk up to ‘doing’ is still creating an amazing conversation with your Higher Power. And as long as that conversation continues, your life is in motion. Take a moment to let that sink in, and while you’re there take out a pen and a piece of paper and write down five imperfect being moments from the last two weeks and recognise them for the amazing gifts they are.