Meditation at Ten Kilometres an Hour
Meditation and mindfulness. The solution to the endless hubbub of the modern world, right? Right? I think it can be a big part of it. But what if meditation doesn’t work for you?
Meditation and mindfulness. The solution to the endless hubbub of the modern world, right? Right? I think it can be a big part of it. But maybe meditation in its classical guise doesn’t work for you? Maybe you’ve downloaded Headspace, you’ve bought a book or seven on the topic, downloaded a hatful of guided meditations on Spotify and you still can’t do it?
Friends, I am also that guy.
But worry not: I’ve found a cheat code.
Why do we need mindfulness?
We live in a world where boredom is a thing of the past. Okay, maybe that’s something of an exaggeration, but thanks to the web, smartphones, countless streaming services, and our always-on mentality, we have so little time to simply zone out. To allow our minds to wander unhindered. To daydream.
So what?
So, boredom is traditionally the time when so many of our creative eureka moments happen. When inspiration strikes. When the knots you’ve tied yourself up in in the creative process untangle themselves.
So, what’s the solution?
For many, it’s meditation. Mindfulness, focussing on the present, the here and now. Unplug that busy brain and put everything into just being. I know countless people for whom meditation or mindfulness practice has been a revelation. Stripping back some of the anxiety of their daily struggles and freeing up the mind to get to grips with those creative problems. Sounds great, right?
But what if, as mentioned above, traditional meditation doesn’t work for you?
Read on …
Running
I started running aged thirty-six. I’d always been fairly active, but not in a sporty way. I walked everywhere, danced (badly) on nights out, had a lot of nervous energy which I got out of my system through never really sitting still for too long. The result of that was a crazily rapid metabolism. It was like a superpower, until it wasn’t anymore.
So, in an act of literal navel gazing, I realised that my choices were to cut down on food, or take up exercise. Life had me over a barrel (and turning into one!) So, on advice from a mate, in 2016, I started running.
The first thing I realised was that running is hard.
But the second thing was that running is also a way to completely switch off from 98.7% of planet earth’s stimuli. If you’re doing it right, your focus becomes this bi-directional laser, targeted at nothing beyond stride and breathing. Sure, there might be music in your ears, helping your body to adhere to a rhythm, but even that you zone out from once you’re in the zone. And that’s when the magic happens.
That mechanical part of your brain soon realises it doesn’t need any help and gives the rest of your brain the morning/afternoon/evening off. Your imagination can start to wander.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been stumped by a story. No idea of where to take it, how to get rid of a body (in the story!) or something and, after getting a few kilometres under my belt, the answer reveals itself to me. Not to mention the mental health benefits of an hour or so completely free of worries about work, bills that need paying, and so on.
What if you loathe running?
Many people do, and running is just one way to access this cheat code to meditation. A few years ago, I spoke to writer John Baltisberger on his podcast Madness Heart Radio, and he explained achieving similar results through fishing. Once again, that mechanical process of cast, pause, reel in—before recasting and starting over—gives your mind the space and time to unpick the problems in your creative work, or simply to be absent from your day-to-day concerns.
My partner in crime at All Creatives Now, Paul Stephenson says the same things about dog walking. Losing himself in the moment, giving himself over to the mechanical, repetitive nature of striding through the woods (and responsibly bagging up his pooch’s turds, of course) gives his mind that freedom to wander. The freedom to be mindful in a certain sense.
Try it yourself
So, the next time you’re feeling weighed down by the mundane, or your creative energy and drive have stalled to the point of exasperation, put on your running shoes and get out there. Or pick up your fishing rod. Or take the dog for a wander. Or put on a pair of boxing gloves. Or … or … or …
And if you do try this out, let us know how you get on! Have your own tips for a mindful activity which can help our readers and listeners? Share it here in the comments, or head over to @allcreativesnow on Twitter. Join the conversation.