“The real question ends up becoming not about what you are missing from the problem but what you are lacking in yourself in order to see the solution.” -Brandon Meyer
Some days the solutions to your problems are right in front of you while other days you seem to never find them. There seems to be a distinct difference between good days and bad days. On the good days your mind is picking up all the details of a problem. On the bad days you feel the trickery of the mind – judgment, opinions, and illusion sets in and you start to think that something or someone greater is testing you. A random thought arises in your mind… Could these tedious tasks lead to something bigger? In my experience they usually do – a state of freedom. However, that’s beside the point. The focus of this discussion is on balancing the mind, the importance of a break, and trying to answer some of the questions that arise surrounding your search for a solution amongst the chaos of a cluttered mind.
The Typical Scenario
It’s no mystery that breaks are beneficial. After focusing hard on a problem it’s almost mandatory that you allow yourself some time to rest. It’s an all too familiar situation; it’s a process that usually consists of making any excuse to get up out of your chair. When you do you either leave with confidence, exhaustion, or sheer frustration. If you’re fun like me you try to make a game out of it and leave as a reward to yourself after solving the most difficult problem you’ve ever encountered. Other times it seems as if it is required as a preventative measure to not jump out of the nearest window.
Let’s say it’s the latter of two and you’ve considered every option but there is no solution in sight. You step outside to take a walk and on the way you run into a close friend who tells you a funny story. After a laugh or two you make it to the door and step out to observe one of the most beautiful days you’ve ever experienced. The tension in your shoulders seems to disappear as you take a deep breath. Something inside you says it can be done. You return to your desk and upon returning you notice that things seem easier than before you left. All of a sudden the problem with no solution seems to have suddenly appeared. A sigh of relief comes over you and you begin to wonder what you were missing before you went on a quest to gain your sanity back.
Even Einstein took Breaks
Some of the greatest minds throughout history understood what it means to be balanced. One man in particular, Albert Einstein, was known for his ability to focus on a problem for an extended period of time. Although Einstein had this gift, he is also known for taking long walks and observing the world around him. Einstein came to value periods of reflection, his long walks served as a ritual for balance. As he would walk he would observe the world around him, feeding his intuition. It is quite possible that Einstein understood that when you are balanced there exists potential; you can go up or down because you are on a level plane.
A Simple Explanation of Balance
There are many questions that arise surrounding ones ability to optimally find a solution. I like to think that the answer to finding a solution faster has to do with our current state of mind. It’s simple, staying balanced results in a faster outcome because we see more of the problem. When we are balanced we are able to use all the “tools in the shed” not just the hammer. Your attention is fully on the problem and not the distraction.
Stuck in a rut
One of the problems with focusing on a difficult problem for an extended period of time is we tend to get stuck. We focus on a problem and tend to trap ourselves by getting stuck in patterns of thinking, which seem to only use select areas of the brain, areas that are purely logical and less imaginative. We are strongly conditioned from an early age to use one area in particular, our frontal lobes, the area responsible for logic. Using this part of the brain has its benefits, but maximizing our fullest potential lies beyond the use of pure logic. We must remember that, although the world can be described by numbers, it is also felt through sensations. There are many solutions to a problem and to see all of them we should consider other methods besides the ones we get comfort with.
Imagination is key
Imagination is the key to getting unstuck. Einstein once said that, “Logic will take you from point A to point B – Imagination will take you anywhere.” When we use our imagination we reflect, and are able to consider all angles of a problem. We free up the space cluttered by thoughts, fears, and emotions. We open to the moment, to the problem, and to the solution. Trusting our intuition, we imagine the solution and bring it into perspective by utilizing the frontal lobes as a tool. If you are having a bad day and your mind is stuck, consider tapping into your imagination through any means necessary. For some this means taking a walk outside. For others this is having a discussion, coloring a picture, or playing a video game. Since all of our minds are unique you should experiment with the world around you to find the tools that most benefit you.
And finally, take action
My experience with balance at times has led me to see things with a dualistic perspective. When I feel myself going too far to the right I shift left. When I feel that I am heavily caught in the mind I move towards the heart. I take a break and re-approach the problem from a new angle using different areas of my brain and body. The real question ends up becoming not about what you are missing in the problem but what you are lacking in yourself in order to see the solution. Remember that, although the world can be described by numbers, it is also felt through sensations. Take a break; tap into your imagination; balance your mind; and re-approach the problem you are faced with. You must search to find what balances you, hack your consciousness in order to find the solution.
What balances you? Do you use some of the above approaches or have you found other techniques to work for you? I’d love to hear your feedback below.
Useful authors that write and speak about balance: