If we are prepared for thinking, there is no need to make an effort to think. http://amzn.to/2iZOLK7
Book: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
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Being prepared for thinking
Shunryu Suzuki writes in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind that if we are prepared for thinking, there is no need to make an effort to think. Good ideas often arrive naturally when the mind is ready. Forcing thoughts rarely works. Instead, preparation creates conditions where clear thinking happens almost by itself.
Writers and scientists describe this experience frequently. After deep study, solutions appear in the shower or during a walk. The effort happened earlier, in preparation. The insight then arrives without struggle. Psychologists call this incubation, a stage in the creative process.
How to be prepared for thinking
Knowledge is the foundation. Understanding a topic deeply gives the mind material to work with. Therefore, reading, research and practice are investments in future insights. For example, a strategist who studies the market thoroughly will spot opportunities faster.
Rest is equally important. A tired mind struggles to make connections. Moreover, sleep plays a role in consolidating memories and linking ideas.
Calm attention completes the preparation. When the mind is quiet and present, ideas surface more easily. Consequently, meditation and quiet walks often precede creative breakthroughs.
Forcing thought often backfires. Stress narrows attention and reduces creativity.
Trust also matters. Believing that ideas will come reduces anxiety and allows the process to unfold.
In short, preparation makes thinking easier. Therefore, gather information, then step away. For instance, review a problem in the morning and take a walk in the afternoon. As a result, solutions may appear with surprising ease.
Moreover, keeping a notebook nearby helps capture ideas when they arrive. Insights often appear at unexpected moments, and writing them down quickly preserves them. Consequently, preparation and openness work together.
