To jumpstart thinking

# Chapter 261

Thinking, unlike inspiration, cannot be driven by the ambience or the beauty outside or the experience of the moment. Thinking requires intentional movement in a certain direction regardless of the internal or external experiences and feelings that you are having. Its like taking a walk North. No other direction will suffice. And pack well, because thinking is often a very long walk in the same direction. A very long walk. For you type A’s out there, we are talking about thinking not walking and yes you can change direction if the thinking demands it.

I am currently thinking on a problem that I have been trying to solve for almost seven months. I am trying to help a client solve a problem we have been thinking on for all these months since their world fell apart and they don’t know what the solution is at all. Its not apparent. On a different problem, I have been thinking on that one for years. And that thinking seems to lead in a direction and so we try that solution and while none of them have worked well the application of a potential solution often changes the direction of the thinking. These are thorny matters and they will not be going away anytime soon.

While thinking is not driven by the beauty of the moon last night or the awesomeness of the sunrise this morning, it does have atmospheric requirements. Quiet being number one. Nothing facilitates thinking as does Quiet. Unfortunately most people I meet don’t even allow a second of Quiet into their lives. Equals no thinking. There are different levels of thinking that can be done without Quiet, and those are plenty difficult too. And yes, there is a small segment of thinking that is done in conjunction with other people, but for the most part, thinking is a solitary practice. Grab some Quiet and some Alone time without distractions (no electronics!) and change the world. Start thinking.