Many people believe that the perfect place for thinking is a large, well-lit room with a big desk and a beautiful view, perhaps of a park or a lake. This idea influences how most offices are designed, with higher-ranking employees often having spacious offices with great views. These setups are thought to encourage high-quality thinking. However, this belief doesn’t necessarily match how our minds actually work.
The biggest obstacle to effective thinking isn’t a small desk or a dull view; it’s anxiety. Often, the most important thoughts we need to consider can be unsettling. If we truly understand their implications, we might have to face uncomfortable truths, such as realizing our beliefs might be wrong, acknowledging past mistakes, or recognizing the need for major life changes. When these thoughts arise, our natural instinct is to protect ourselves, which can lead to anxiety and distraction. This internal struggle can cloud our thinking and prevent us from reaching important insights that might disturb our immediate peace of mind.
Surprisingly, the shower can be an excellent place for deep thinking. With the warm water and steam, and a few moments of calm before the day starts, our minds tend to relax. In the shower, we’re not expected to think deeply; our main tasks are simple, like washing and rinsing. This mild distraction allows important ideas about our life’s purpose and future plans to emerge more easily. Without the pressure to think, we can do so with more courage and clarity.
This phenomenon isn’t limited to the shower. Similar conditions can be found while driving on a highway or walking through a forest. In these situations, the mind is just busy enough to keep the cautious, managerial side from interfering with our more genuine and creative thoughts. These environments strike the right balance of distraction, allowing creative ideas to flourish without the burden of anxiety.
Our society highly values innovative ideas but often overlooks why they are so hard to come by. Ralph Waldo Emerson once noted, “In the minds of geniuses, we find our own neglected thoughts.” This suggests that geniuses don’t necessarily have unique ideas; instead, they are skilled at not letting inhibitions and preconceived notions block their ability to fully explore these thoughts.
In an ideal future, we would take a more creative approach to understanding what real thinking is and where it happens. We would realize that the true enemy of effective thinking isn’t a small desk or a modest view but anxiety. Few things are as effective at reducing this anxiety as the “library of our deeper selves”—the morning shower.
By acknowledging and embracing these insights, we can create environments that better support our natural thinking processes, leading to more profound and creative ideas.
Take some time each day to write in a journal about your thoughts and feelings. Focus on moments when you felt anxious and how it affected your thinking. Reflect on how different environments, like a shower or a walk, might have helped you think more clearly. This activity will help you become more aware of how your surroundings and emotions influence your thought processes.
Go for a walk in a natural setting, such as a park or forest. As you walk, pay attention to your surroundings and let your mind wander. Notice any creative or insightful thoughts that arise. After your walk, jot down these thoughts and consider how the environment may have contributed to your thinking. This exercise will help you experience firsthand how mild distractions can foster creativity.
Participate in a group discussion with your peers about the environments where you think best. Share personal experiences and explore why certain spaces might be more conducive to creative thinking. Discuss how anxiety can be a barrier and brainstorm ways to create supportive environments for effective thinking. This activity encourages collaborative learning and diverse perspectives.
Engage in a workshop where you tackle a complex problem in a relaxed setting, such as a lounge or outdoor space. Use techniques like brainstorming or mind mapping to explore solutions without pressure. Reflect on how the environment and lack of anxiety influenced your ability to generate ideas. This workshop will demonstrate the impact of environment on problem-solving skills.
Participate in a guided visualization and meditation session focused on reducing anxiety and enhancing creativity. Visualize yourself in different thinking spaces, such as a shower or a forest, and observe how these environments affect your mental state. This session will help you practice mindfulness and learn techniques to manage anxiety, promoting clearer and more creative thinking.
Thinking – The process of using one’s mind to consider or reason about something. – In critical thinking, it is essential to evaluate evidence and arguments before forming a conclusion.
Anxiety – A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. – Students often experience anxiety before exams, which can impact their ability to think clearly and critically.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness. – Creativity in problem-solving allows psychologists to develop innovative approaches to therapy.
Insights – The capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something. – Through careful analysis, the psychologist gained insights into the patient’s behavior patterns.
Beliefs – An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof. – Critical thinking involves questioning one’s own beliefs and considering alternative perspectives.
Distractions – Things that prevent someone from giving full attention to something else. – Minimizing distractions is crucial for maintaining focus during complex cognitive tasks.
Environments – The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. – A supportive learning environment can enhance students’ critical thinking skills.
Genius – Exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability. – The genius of the psychologist was evident in her groundbreaking research on cognitive development.
Clarity – The quality of being coherent and intelligible. – Achieving clarity in one’s arguments is a fundamental aspect of effective critical thinking.
Purpose – The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. – Understanding the purpose of a psychological study is essential for evaluating its relevance and implications.
