What You “Do Not Do” also Describes You!

The path to achieving your true potential

Sometimes, a few words can impact our lives profoundly, and give us the much-needed push to start moving in a favorable direction. Such is the power of quotations. Some good ones are like sharp arrows of powerful words, charged with the potential of penetrating our hearts and leaving an indelible imprint there.

In my journey of self-improvement, many quotations have moved me and inspired me to contemplate. I would like to share with you today, my understanding on one such quotation.

Acclaimed French playwright Molière was best known for his comedies, however, the depth of his wisdom stood out by way of his quotations.

Here is one of his popular quotes:

“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”

― Molière

These words, skillfully chosen by Molière, are, in a way like a wake-up call for us, to shrug off inertia and start taking accountability- also for what we do not do.

And that is the interesting part!

We all know we are accountable for what we do.

But this quote invites us for self-reflection and rumination on our vices and virtues. Are we also being accountable for our ‘inaction’, ‘habitual procrastination’ and ‘undone good deeds’? It seems like Molière is challenging us to raise the bar for ourselves and strive to become finer human beings!

So let me take you on a journey of self-exploration by delving deeper into this thought-provoking quotation.

Let’s start with a supposition. For the sake of the article, let us assume that we are as much accountable for the things we ‘do not do’ (as we are for the things we do) - to society, to fellow humans, to our conscience, ourselves and finally, to the Creator!

That would change the game, wouldn’t it?

Yes it would! For would be compelled to look at our life from an entirely new perspective:

• one in which we can no further take for-granted our inaction
• where we can procrastinate no longer
• in which we can longer brush under the carpet things we ought-to-be-doing!

When we were created, the seeds of myriad possibilities, abundant potential and realizable accomplishments were planted in our Soul by the Creator.

Despite that, millions of us waste away this precious life by not staying accountable to our true potential! We fail to pay heed to the call of our Hearts and Souls which keep imploring us to ‘do’-

• the honest things
• the fearless things
• the compassionate things
• the things which can lead us to self-actualization

If only we could grasp, how much of what we ‘do not do’, also defines our persona, our values and our evolution as a human being!

Sincere accountability for the things we do not do can benefit us in all areas of life.

Here’s how:

Professional Life

In the corporate world, apart from the routine work, there is also a set of ‘unlisted responsibilities’ which an individual is expected to undertake in order to achieve the listed objectives. That eventually enables one to climb the success ladder.

I was very lucky to have a manager who explained this to me well, at the mid of my fashion-designing career. He pointed out to me that as an experienced professional, in addition to doing my regular work, I was also expected to be doing a host of unspoken things. Things such as: finishing tasks well in advance, taking up initiatives without being asked, and setting an example of inspiring performance within the team.

With his guidance, I started taking accountability for whatever I was neglecting and not prioritizing, and I eventually became a top performer.

We all know in our hearts what our jobs demand from us at the highest level. But many of us keep on turning a deaf ear to the voices demanding accountability; perhaps, we assume that our jobs are guaranteed. But nothing is life really is!

Our chances at excelling in our professional life can increase manifold once we ask ourselves the following questions:

• Do we work proactively and finish tasks without being monitored?
• Is problem solving and providing solutions our focus, or do we wait for someone else to do it?
• Are we someone who happily takes initiatives, or do we avoid them to escape extra work?
• Can we freely share our skills with our peers, or we feel insecure about it?
• Do we lend a helping hand to colleagues, even if it demands something ‘extra’ from us?

If we think over, there would be a number of unlisted things that we ought to be taking accountability for, in our work lives. It is usually the seemingly small, extra things that differentiate an average employee from a high-performing one.

And we must put in a little more effort to be the latter.

Relationships

The best relationships are forged when they are entered into with a willingness to ‘give’. Be it the pure love of a parent for the child, the deep love of a devoted partner or the unconditional love of the Creator for His Creation, the focus on “What can I give?” makes relationships truly beautiful!

Not saying that receiving is not a part of relationships, but it’s about where our focus lies: Does it lie in giving, or in receiving?

To excel at relationships, we ought to be looking carefully at what we are ‘not doing’. Maybe, ask ourselves a few questions like these:

• Are we surprising our partner occasionally with something they like; perhaps a gift or a cozy date?
• Do we consciously take out time to play some fun games with our kids and create loving memories?
• What about spending quality time with in-laws over a cup of coffee maybe, giving them a chance to express their feelings?
• Does that much pending call to our friend or that group video call with college mates ever happen?

If we are making efforts beyond the regular expectations, to make our relationships thrive, that’s fantastic!

But often, we get so sucked up in routine that we forget these small, powerful gestures which go a long way in strengthening bonds between loved ones.

Can we take more accountability?

Health and Wellness

“Health is Wealth”, we have all heard! Yet, many of us are guilty of ignoring our health while we are in our prime. We often tend to undervalue ‘wellness’ even though it is the key to attaining longevity, fulfillment, and self-actualization.

Small good habits practiced consistently, go a long way in promoting Health and Wellness, provided we are ready to be accountable, for what we do as well as not do.

Below are some examples of how many of us, time and again, tend to escape accountability towards health and well-being:

• We are well aware of the importance of exercise, yet we often procrastinate and end up not working out.
• When we do go for our workout, we are either too busy with our phones or don’t put in enough dedication.
• Sugar, oil and fats must be consumed in moderation, we all know this, yet we keep on consuming them in excess.
• We know the harmful effects of stress on our body, yet we don’t allocate adequate time for stress-relieving activities such as exercise, yoga, or meditation.
• We tend to lose the balance of life, by not focusing on all aspects of Wellness -mind, body and soul.

Maintaining optimum levels of Health and Wellness is a lifelong journey, not a destination. Staying accountable for the things we ‘do not do’ can significantly improve our chances of enjoying a disease-free, happy and long life.

Spirituality

Perhaps one of the most important journeys we undertake in life is our spiritual journey. Yet it is often overshadowed by our physical journey, as man’s tendency is to stay engrossed in the pursuit of the ‘tangible’. But the fact remains that we are Infinite Souls having a finite human experience.

What we do not do for our ‘spiritual selves’ amounts to nothing less than the squandering away of a precious life gifted for a higher purpose- spiritual evolution and attainment of liberation from the cycles of birth and death.

It’s often too easy to get distracted from our spiritual pursuits. Yet, here again, if we become mindful of ‘what we are not doing’, it would be much easier to get back on track.

Maybe, we can ask ourselves a few of these questions:

• Are we reading books on spirituality and mindfulness, which can inspire us and propel us towards our spiritual goals?
• Have we made efforts to acquire spiritual knowledge and wisdom needed to dispel ignorance within the mind and to give up needless attachments, avarice and addictions?
• Do we follow any spiritual practices such as ‘pranayama’ or breath regulation, meditation, or mindfulness practice to awaken the higher consciousness within?
• Are we practicing virtues such as honestly, kindness, compassion and giving up on vices like greed, envy, gluttony?

We have, by way of this life, been given an opportunity to grow in character and virtues and to move closer to Truth and self-realization. But that won’t happen unless we stay accountable to our journey.

Life Purpose

Right from the tiny ant to the majestic mountains, everything in Creation serves some purpose. We are also created for a purpose. The things that drive and inspire us, our natural talents and gifts, our passions; these are all connected to our Soul purpose.

Our life’s purpose is to express our truths and our uniqueness in the best possible way and to make best use of our gifts, so that we can make the world a slightly better place!

Fulfillment of purpose is not possible without contribution.

When our hearts are brimming with gratitude for this wondrous gift of life, there is born within us the desire to give back, which aligns us with our life’s purpose. This journey is accelerated by taking accountability for all that we are not yet doing. For example:

• We may be blessed with wealth but are not doing any charity, or tithing, as many religious scriptures ask us to.
• Perhaps we have been gifted -to be a healer, an artist, a teacher or an environment crusader, but being caught up in our day jobs, we are not pursuing our gifts.
• There is a fervent desire in us to be of service to mankind; perhaps by joining an NGO, yet we don’t prioritize such pursuits.
• We shut our eyes to injustice around us and choose not to play a role in building a better society.

What we fail to do towards our life purpose, we fail to do towards humanity and towards our own self-actualization.

The sooner we take accountability in this area of our life, the better it is!

Final Thoughts

As we can observe, if we apply the principle of accountability as recommended in the quotation, our entire lives can undergo an integrated enhancement and transformation.

What we do not do, would also eventually describe us!

This quotation by Molière has the power to thrust us onto a journey of becoming much better versions of ourselves, which perhaps is the most important journey of our life!

I see myself walking firmly towards my true potential, predominantly in two aspects of my life- my spiritual journey and life’s purpose, by having started taking accountability like there is no tomorrow.

I invite you to do the same!

Thank you for reading!

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