Don't just sit there, do something!

Often we tell ourselves, "Don't just sit there, do something!" But when we practice awareness, we discover something unusual. We discover that the opposite may be more helpful: "Don't just do something, sit there!" We must learn to stop from time to time in order to see clearly. At first, "stopping" may look like a kind of resistance to modern life, but it is not. It is not just a reaction; it is a way of life. Humankind's survival depends on our ability to stop rushing. "Stopping" is not only to stop the negative, but to allow positive healing to take place. That is the purpose of our practice--not to avoid life, but to experience and demonstrate that happiness in life is possible now and also in the future. 

~ Thich Nhat Hanh