Allowing is more of a challenge than doing.

When I telephoned my friend Jack, his wife told me, "Jack isn't available at the moment - he's sleeping for world peace."

Sleeping for world peace. Hmmm. Has sort of a nice ring to it. Maybe it's a wise path to cultivate.

Sometimes the most powerful action you can take toward solving a problem is to step back and allow the healing power of nature to take its course. If you try to fix something from a position of fear, anger, confusion, victimization or self-righteousness, you will not be effective. You tap into greater strength by letting go than acting out of anxiety. Buddha said, "Don't just do something - stand there."

Ram Dass underscored the importance of the energy we imbue in our actions. "You may be marching for world peace," he suggests, "but if you are immersed in anger, hatred or divisiveness, you are sending out a set of vibrations that is just causing more war."

I saw a practical demonstration of this principle during the 1970s when I was involved in the anti-war movement. In my home town there were several activist groups, and none of them got anywhere because they were fighting with each other and within their own ranks. How could they expect to end war on the planet when they couldn't even get along with each other? From that experience I learned that my most important responsibility is to find peace in my own heart and do my best to create peace in my immediate world. Then I receive my M.B.U. degree - I become a Mobile Blessing Unit.

There are four important steps in the manifestation process: (1) Get a clear vision of what you want to create; (2) find and cultivate the feeling of having what you want; (3) take whatever action you can peacefully and joyfully take toward your goal; (4) let go and allow the universe to handle the details.

If any particular details are to be handled through you, the universe will give you clear instructions. If not, don't butt into God's business. Just as many projects get thwarted from overacting, as underacting. Yes, you must do, but you must also allow.

For many of us who have been taught that everything depends on our action, allowing is more of a challenge than doing - and it offers greater reward. Everything does not depend on your action; everything depends on your energy. As a spiritual being, the spirit you bring to your actions will have a far deeper and broader effect than anxious labor.

Author Arnold Patent suggests, "If you ever feel that you should do something, lie down until the feeling passes." There are two basic positions from which we may act: If you work from obligation, you will be resentful, tired, and ineffective. If you proceed from inspiration, you will be joyful, successful, and have unlimited energy to create and serve.

Once I was looking for a document I needed but could not find. An inner voice prompted me, "Just sit down, relax, and clear your mind." So I stepped back from my search and took a few minutes to meditate. As I was enjoying my state of peace, an image popped into my mind, showing me the rear section of a particular file cabinet drawer. When I completed my meditation, I went to the drawer and immediately found the file containing the document I needed.

Good artists will tell you that the space on a written page or a painting is as important as the words or colors. That is why we must give ourselves space for our spirits to renew amidst our busyness. Observe the dogs, cats, birds, and many animals who live in their natural state: they nap frequently during the day and refresh their spirit before they go on. Great geniuses recognize and make use of this important habit. Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein, for example, were known for taking 20-minute cat naps during their work day. Ultimately, they become two of the most prolific and productive contributors to twentieth-century cultural evolution.

I know a fellow who serves as an efficiency consultant to large corporations. He teaches the power of "creative loafing." Once a high-level executive, after taking the course, decided to take one day off of work each week for play and creativity. He reported that the ideas he came up with on his play day, coupled with his soul refreshment, ultimately yielded far more success than he had been achieving by plugging along in his daily grind.

When we sleep deeply, our soul returns to Spirit, and we are directly in communion and communication with the mind of God. During sleep, much physical, emotional and mental healing occurs that we do not obtain when we are immersed in the activities of the world. No kidding, sleeping may ultimately be your greatest contribution to world peace. When you take care of your soul, you bring a whole and happy person to your loved ones, your work, the world and, most important, yourself.

Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books including the best-selling The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore. To order Alan's new book Happily Even After or request a free catalog of Alan's books, tapes and workshops, write to Hay House, P.O. Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018 or call 1-800-462-3013. For info on Alan's Mastery Training in Hawaii, contact 455A Kukuna Road, Haiku, HI 96708, (800) 568-3079, email: mastery@alancohen.com. Check out Alan's Web Site at www.alancohen.com