Combining Creative Pauses with Movement. Gaining mental clarity.
I adore spring’s frantic drive to encourage growth, and take action on long-simmering visions, ideas, and movements.
This energy allows me to harvest what I want to grow. Not only in my backyard, which I enjoy, but also on meaningful routes that will make me feel energised.
The truth is that the more we rely on pervasive technology and stick to our busy schedules, the more important it is to take a break and allow our minds to wander.
There is a connection between movement and thinking, and walking is a great way for me to clear my mind. It is a journey that reconnects with my roots.
This also makes me think about how effective hiking can be when I want to achieve definition in life.
I am referring to hiking that is not required for survival or enforced. The driving force may be emotional release or exercise. It could be for healing, inspiration, curiosity, or a challenge to make us stronger.
Mindful, slow walking is also about creating a journey. In it, the inner landscape is as crucial as the outer.
It is breath and air. The intention of making it is to ask a meaningful question. The question seeks an answer. The feet and presence determine the route and activate it.
If there is a single activity that has kept us sane, this is it. A walk in the woods can heal. You take time to enjoy the sounds, scents, scenery, and wildlife. It also unlocks creativity.
Scientists often talk about the ‘creative pause.’ It limits our conscious thinking while allowing free ideas to flow. In other words, walking outdoors allows our subconscious to create ideas. It’s freeing. It lets us get out of our way and reconnect with nature through a bird’s-eye view and our origins. It encourages freedom and connection.
Walking outdoors has always existed in human history. In ancient Greece, Aristotle linked thinking and walking. Basho, a 17th-century Japanese poet, walked through his native countryside. The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s work, Reveries of a Solitary Walker, was based on a series of walks he took. These walks prompted reflections on life, nature, and society.
Use it to unblock and connect with your inner creative self. Use it to get results that reflect your values. Make them for yourself while empathising with nature.
Thinking through movement
When we are in motion, our vision sharpens. This is especially true for details in our periphery.
This biological response helped our ancestors to survive. Humans have a natural urge to move, and when we do, we become more perceptive.
The philosopher and essayist Henry David Thoreau once said, “When I start to move, my thoughts start to flow.”
The movement of our bodies helps us to extend our minds. People differ in how tuned they are. This internal awareness comes with certain benefits.
We can better manage our emotions when we pay attention to what is going on in our bodies and think through movement. We sharpen our senses. It improves our observation skills, tests your patience, and encourages us to be more present.
We see an ecosystem unfolding through our eyes.
360 — Second Revolutions
The best ideas emerge when we step back from a personal or professional challenge. This is when we aren’t thinking about it.
I encourage you to step away from your routine more often. Do this whenever you have the chance. Use the momentum to take long walks in the (great) outdoors.
When you get back, ask two simple questions. Did anything happen to you while you were away?
Did the personal or professional challenge seem different?
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There will be activities where we all can meet and feel energised to embrace our full potential as creative beings.
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Feel free to join & stay healthy.
