We need to rediscover the art of not doing things – 09/03/2023 – Equilibrium

Some of you may know that Lent has just begun, the liturgical phase that many Christians celebrate –or suffer through– in the run-up to Easter. Lent celebrates the 40 days and nights Jesus spent fasting in the desert and being tempted by the devil.

I was raised by a devout Catholic Irish father who went to nun school, and I feel guilty if I don’t observe Lent by at least making an effort to give up some kind of earthly pleasure or addiction, as many Christians are encouraged to do. , alongside two other pillars of the moment: praying and giving alms. And I’m sure some of you will also give up pleasures at this time – chocolate, alcohol or who knows Twitter –, even if you don’t have a Christian faith or background, for reasons of self-discipline, health or simple sanity.

But we are a rapidly shrinking group. A poll taken by YouGov this week and shared with the Financial Times suggests that only one in 20 Britons will give up something for Lent this year (although a separate poll suggests eight in 10 enjoyed the Mother’s Day tradition). Pancakes, celebrated on the Tuesday before the beginning of the period of abstinence).

The last time the company did the same poll, in 2012, one in ten Britons would give up something for Lent. Even in America, such a God-fearing country, surveys suggest that only one in six people — and less than half of American Catholics — participate, yet seven in 10 Americans celebrate Easter, often with the consumption of large amounts of chocolate. .

A larger share of people — one in five — tend to make New Year’s resolutions, but these are usually about actively doing things like “get more exercise” or “eat healthier.” Already in Lent, the explicit focus is on abstention.

In a world driven by the twin forces of consumerism and productivity, limitless possibilities and endless excess, we seem to have forgotten the art of not doing things and lost sight of their value. We often ask ourselves “What did I manage to do today?”, but much more rarely do we ask “What did I manage to not do today?”

However, letting go can be more important and much more empowering. Throwing weights or walking long distances can feel like empowering ways to jump-start a weight-loss program, but research suggests that modifying our diets — frankly speaking, eating less — is a much more effective way than exercise to shed the pounds. unwanted. Investing a little money in a low-risk index fund can be a good way to save money to buy a house, but not losing money gambling is even better.

And it’s not just in the area of ​​personal development that we should think about valuing the absence of things more. This is also important in politics. A dull, uncharismatic leader who does not propose new ideas is better than a charismatic narcissist with many dangerous ideas.

The idea of ​​thinking more about what we should stop doing, instead of focusing on what we should do, can also be applied to other areas. In the field of diversity and inclusivity, for example, taking an active decision not to exclude any disadvantaged groups – hiring blindly and ensuring that people don’t feel socially or culturally excluded – can have more impact than trying to include all groups rigorously, an effort that will never be fully realized, given that there are infinite ways to divide and subdivide disadvantaged groups.

In our perpetually active culture, we seem to be more concerned with trying to fill our schedules than with making room in them. Having nothing to do leaves us with an emptiness that bothers us deeply. So we look for things to fill that space, to reassure ourselves and avoid uncomfortable emotions. In the long run, however, accepting and facing these feelings head on can be helpful, and the feeling of boredom should be accepted more readily.

Oliver Burkeman, author of the book “Four Thousand Weeks”, goes further. He says we need to figure out not just what we want to succeed at in life, but also what we want to fail at. “It’s inevitable that you’ll end up underperforming at something … but the big benefit of strategic underperforming … is that you focus your time and energy more effectively,” he writes.

I like that idea, although as a person who wants to be great at everything, I admit that I haven’t put it into practice yet. What I have already created, however, is a list of things not to do. Even if you don’t feel like doing Lent, you might want to join me at this point.

If you’re in need of inspiration, here are some suggestions: try not to procrastinate; not spend too much time on social media; not going to bed too late; do not buy cryptocurrencies; not telling lies and generally not behaving like an idiot. Sometimes the absence of the bad is more important than the presence of the good.

Translated by Clara Allain

Jemima Kelly is a columnist for the Financial Times