The start of a new year brings a sense of possibility. It’s like a reset button for life, a chance to refocus on what truly matters. While many of us dive into our endless to-do lists and lofty goals, there’s a quieter, more impactful way to approach personal growth: focusing on being, not doing.

Best-selling author and spiritual teacher Logan Barone offers insights into this shift. He lays out how adopting a "being-first" mindset can transform not only how we approach goals but also how we live authentically.

The Trap of Doing to Be

From an early age, many of us are programmed to think we must earn our worth through action. We're asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" rather than, "Who do you want to be?" This mindset leads to a constant state of striving and comparison.

Logan explains that this approach often stems from feelings of “not being enough.” Whether it’s seeking societal approval, professional success, or simply trying to meet our own impossible standards, this cycle of doing to earn our value can leave us burned out.

But what if we flipped the script?

Instead of doing to be, Logan challenges us to embrace "being to do." When we recognize our worth as inherent, our actions flow naturally and effortlessly. It’s not about abandoning action—it’s about letting our actions come from a place of authenticity and wholeness.

The result? A life driven by joy and purpose rather than pressure and perfectionism.

Living from Your True Self

How do you “live from being”? It starts by reconnecting with who you already are. Logan emphasizes that our true selves are naturally whole, just like children before the layers of expectation and ego pile on top of them.

Think back to childhood. Remember the sheer joy of playing, creating, and simply existing? That childlike wonder and freedom didn’t come from earning a title or reaching a milestone—it was just a part of you.

To live from your true self, consider these small shifts:

• Check in with yourself daily. Ask, "Does my life reflect the person I want to be?"
• Purge what feels out of alignment. Whether it’s physical clutter or outdated beliefs, release what no longer serves your path.
• Focus on feelings. Don’t obsess over results. Instead, embrace the emotions you want to feel—freedom, joy, love—and let them guide your actions.

Judging Less, Loving More

Logan stresses the importance of letting go of judgment, especially self-judgment. When we judge the egoic parts of ourselves, we create unnecessary guilt, shame, and rejection. Instead, view your ego as a teacher, a natural part of your human experience that helps you learn and grow.

Recognizing this allows you to accept and even love the parts of yourself you once rejected. Imagine how freeing it would be to see every experience—good or bad—as a tool for your growth.

Logan also highlights the role of self-compassion. Often, we extend kindness and understanding to others but fail to give ourselves the same grace. When you’re having a rough day or feeling stuck, try to treat yourself like a friend. Blaming yourself rarely helps.

The Secret to Manifestation

Everyone talks about manifestation: think it, do it, and it’ll come. But Logan offers a deeper take: the secret isn’t in the doing—it’s in the being.

You don’t attract what you want. You attract who you are.

By embodying the feelings tied to what you want—joy, freedom, fulfillment—you naturally align yourself with experiences and opportunities that match that energy. It’s more about feeling than forcing.

Logan compares this process to an Amazon package. You might envision a specific item inside to spark happiness, but what you’re really after is the feeling of happiness, not the item itself. When you let go of how the package arrives, you open yourself up to outcomes far better than you could have imagined.

Shed the Layers

If life feels heavy, it may be because you’ve piled on unnecessary layers—expectations, responsibilities, and identities that don’t reflect your true self. Coming back to your authentic self is like removing those layers one by one.

Here’s how to start "shedding":

1. Release perfectionism. Good enough really is good enough.
2. Simplify your goals. Focus on becoming, not achieving.
3. Stop overthinking others’ opinions. Most people are too busy with their own lives to judge yours.

When you strip away what doesn’t serve you, you rediscover the joy, creativity, and freedom that’s always been within you.

Integration: The Circle of Growth

Logan encourages us to see life not as an uphill climb but as a circular journey. We aren’t here to "earn" wholeness—it was ours from the start. The goal is simply to remember it.

This shift in perspective is liberating. It turns life into a dance rather than a task list. It removes the pressure to constantly "level up" and invites us to experience the present moment fully.

By embracing our original, childlike essence, we can live authentically, love deeply, and share our light with others.

Conclusion

Life is richer when you live from being rather than doing. By reconnecting with your true self, letting go of judgment, and focusing on the feelings you want to cultivate, you create a life that's fulfilling and free.

So, this year, focus less on ticking boxes and more on uncovering who you already are. Your true self is waiting, just beneath the layers. Let's get to know them again.