A <link http: news.harvard.edu gazette story wandering-mind-not-a-happy-mind _blank external link in new>study published by Daniel T. Gilbert of Harvard University in 2010 had a closer look at the relationship between mind wandering and happiness. The study found out that “stimulus-independent thought” or mind wandering appears to be the brain’s default mode of operation. It also showed that the way we think is a better predictor for our happiness than what we are doing. Moreover, it made clear that we tend to be less happy when our minds are wandering as opposed to when we think about our current activity and are therefore focused and concentrated.

Does that mean that “not thinking” is the goal?

For many of us there are only rare moments in which we do not think; when we are engaged in sports or indulged in a concert, for example. Apart from these moments, the rational mind dominates the scene, one thought after the other, until we fall asleep at night. In worst cases it even persists and keeps us from falling asleep. According to recent research, an adult seems to have roughly fifty to sixty thousand single thoughts – per day. Much of this thinking is uncontrolled and often even compulsive, like a TV stuck in overdrive that produces images and commentaries without end.

It is a phenomenon that seems to gain momentum in our technical information society and that apparently Albert Einstein had already identified: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." 

This being said, of course, there is nothing to be said against rational reasoning. Our rational mind is an exquisite instrument that allows us to solve complex problems and tasks. This is rather about the compulsive thinking in autopilot mode. The faithful servant, as Einstein used to call the rational mind that often behaves like a young and playful truffle-dog when it is off the leash instead of hunting truffles. As if you were sitting in a car with the foot constantly on the accelerator while the engine is in neutral mode. You may feel like you are going somewhere, while in fact it is completely useless and just makes a lot of noise. So, wouldn’t we be better off if we could just stop it?

But is “not thinking” really possible?

It is the mind’s function to produce thoughts just as it is the hair root’s function to produce hair. And this is completely unproblematic as long as the mind does not constantly suck up the majority of our attention because it pretends to be so important. In fact, this is the actual core of the problem: the constant noise of thinking has an almost magical attraction, leaving us rather ‘mind-full’ instead of mindful. In this state of constant partial attention, we drive our cars, cross streets with dense traffic as pedestrians – often with our eyes locked on our smartphones – and have just enough situational awareness that we do not fall over or knock our heads all the time. Even in conversations we tend to not really be present because we immediately get distracted and entangled by every thought that emanates from our brain. Just like the pop-up message on our computers that announces every incoming e-mail, pulling us out of our current activity if we do not switch it off.

So, compulsive thinking seems to be the biggest enemy of focus and a relaxed situational awareness. The good news, however, is that it is not necessary to completely switch it off and get rid of it. It can already be enough not to be carried away by all the stories our mind keeps telling us and to simply let those thoughts pass through instead, like the clouds on a windy day. It is all about creating some space in and around our dense stream of thoughts – just like an inner airbag, as I have already described as an analogy in my last <link http: www.gelmi-consulting.com en newsroom detail news mit-persoenlichen-airbags-bewusst-raum-im-alltag-schaffen _top internal link in current>blog.

But how can I add this quality to my daily life?

An important insight of modern psychology in the last twenty years was that as human beings we have a choice about the way we think and that we are able to form new thinking habits (Martin Seligman). One important key lies in reclaiming control over our own attention in such a way that we can either direct it to where we need it, just like the focused light beam of a spotlight or have it glow like the 360 degree light of a lantern instead.

For this purpose, methods have proven to be very helpful that are used by special forces and pilots just as well as in ancient martial arts and meditation. They increase the ability to be more aware in general, direct awareness if needed and to eventually quiet the mind. These skills can be developed in specific training or coaching sessions, leading to remarkably more ease, happiness and effectiveness in daily life.

Contact me if you would like to make a first step towards more self-competence, be it for yourself or for your team. I look forward to supporting you.