Busyness

People seem so busy today.  In fact, when asked how they are doing many people reply “crazy busy.” This is culturally reinforced too, because we are conditioned that being busy is good and stillness unproductive, or even lazy.

There is some truth to the fact that being occupied with what you love promotes well being, but how much of this otherness is actually good? Also, there is too much value placed on being busy for busy’s sake, whether or not something productive comes out of it at all. There is the danger that you can just go through the motions leading nowhere in particular, but to the outside observer you are “busy,” so that’s okay. Also, there is almost no cultural value placed on learning to be still or calm, though this is a skill of increasing value in today’s fast paced world, and most people resort to some form of drug or pill to achieve any sense of calm.

There are also those instances where “being busy” is used as an excuse for selfishness, and for not being there when other people in your life need you. When people hide behind their supposed busyness, they are doing just that. It is a similar technique to the passive-aggressive behavior so prevalent in our society, since people are reluctant or afraid to say no for good reason, or to express their displeasure, so they agree to everything asked of them and often do nothing.

If you watch your own behavior carefully, how often do you fall in the busyness trap?