'Being productively engaged'. This, to my mind, is the ONE SINGLE PHRASE that causes stress levels to zoom off into space.
So, what is this 'productive engagement'?
Why does this phrase cause so much dread and distress and fear?
For whose benefit is this 'productive engagement' happening?
Think about it for a moment: We feel we are 'productively engaged' when we are rushing about and filling our days with tasks, both actual and imaginary. We are so afraid of quietness and silence, and 'watching the flowers bloom', that should we find ourselves in such a situation, a voice from within starts flogging us, causing guilt feelings to balloon, making us believe that we are lazy louts, and are not doing.................whatever...
But...
It is in quietness, and solitude and in watching the flowers bloom, that our souls are nurtured...
And...
We can give of ourselves, and make the world a happier and brighter place for someone, somewhere...