Shower Thoughts

My best insights come in the shower or on the pillow where I linger after waking. Where is all that smart thinking the rest of the time?

Consider the last time you spent an afternoon trying to get a website to respond properly. You are sure, at any moment, the problem will be solved. All you have to do is think it through. Or the problem of a boss who is never pleased. My fault? His fault? Speak up? Shut up?

On top of that is parenting, owning a house, managing couple-hood. And, oh yes, the attention we compell ourselves to give to political news. All the jets of important riddles pour into the stream of our thoughts, eddying into a cyclone’s vortex.

Thank goodness for sleep. The unconscious mind takes over, allows creativity to slow the current, to calm incessant repetitions. A quiet mind makes room for a new thought. When I am lucky, a solution emerges as I shake off sleep.

Being awake all day does not have to be so hard. It is possible to take a break from your thoughts. Try looking at yourself from across the room. Notice the look on your face. Which muscles are tense? Relax them and nothing will suffer. Hear the thoughts as so much noise. Gradually change that noise into a dull hum.

When you separate yourself from your thoughts, the world continues on its way and you get to be quiet for a time. A mind does its best work in silence.