A time to think

But the question is; are we really free in our thinking?

Even though we are just now beginning to realise the power our feelings and emotions have in determining our life circumstances, we are still very reliant on “rational thinking” as our essential source of control in this world of science and technology.

Having said this, I am reminded and humoured by the saying; “the brain” is the most important organ in the body – according to the brain!

So how can we ever think objectively?

We may think we are free thinkers, but are we really – or do we just think we are?

Real freedom of thought is the potential of a healthy mind. A healthy mind is a clear mind – uncluttered and accessible. Yes, when it comes to the health of our mental capacity, humans have little to boast about. But I believe the real solution is at hand – right in front of us. (Perhaps too close for some)

In my “soon to be released” book “in the Key of Peace”, I emphasize the point that the practice of meditation alone can contribute in a positive way to mental health, and here’s why;
Think about this. In the mad-rush of modern life we humans have become highly skilled multi-taskers. The most common form of multi-tasking is thinking on the run – we do this all the time. We are thinking from the moment we wake till the moment we fall sleep and at all times between. We think while we shower, while we breakfast, while we drive, while we work, while we cook, while we eat and while we’re doing just about everything.

But do we ever think and do nothing else?

Multi-tasking our thoughts or “thinking on the run” can be quite normal and productive, particularly in the interests of saving time. However for most of us, this has now become the ONLY time we think and one of the problems with this is that we begin to develop habits that cause us stress. In this case the habit is “shallow thinking”.

It is very difficult to think deeply while we are doing something else – try it and see. In short, the interruption and distraction of whatever else we’re doing contributes to numerous unfinished and unresolved thoughts and ideas cluttering the free-space of our long-term memory. Space in the long-term memory is essential to day-to-day problem solving, creative thinking and recall of critical information. The compromise of these essential human functions can lead to chronic mental stress and overload.

Multi-tasking our thoughts also contributes to “patterned” thinking. The influence of thinking while performing a learned (patterned) behaviour such as driving a motor vehicle can influence the way we think generally – we will tend to think in a patterned way and unwittingly end up reinforcing negative and unproductive beliefs, leading to further frustration and stress.

So does all this sound like freethinking? – I think not . . .

As the saying goes, if we are not releasing our stress we are accumulating it.

The “Simply Stillness” meditation approach I teach, allows for the processing of thought as a natural evolution toward a clear and uncluttered mind – a mind that can think freely and creatively.

I like to have a time when I am just thinking and doing nothing else. My thoughts are deeper and more profound when I am relaxed and still. I can think clearly and come up with better solutions when I am in a deeply relaxed state.

Before I meditated, my thinking was all done on the run. When I found meditation, I found a time and place to think. I found a place where my thoughts were clearer and more intelligible. In peace, I could work through my thoughts and ideas to their completion.

Practicing meditation automatically and continually releases mental stress at a subtle level.

During meditation, the peaceful vibration of deep relaxation exposes and modulates the stressful vibrations associated with mind clutter and overwhelm. These stressful patterns are either modulated to become peacefully sympathetic, or they become conscious, and are released through rational resolve.

It is important that we create balance in our thought processes by taking time out to think, and only think. This can only be achieved in meditation.

Do I still multi-task my thinking? Yes I do, but because my mind is clear I can focus on the task at hand more clearly and be more present in the moment.

Freethinking requires space. Space, requires peace.

In peace always,
Jeffree