“OH, NOTHING”

“OH, NOTHING”

“What are you thinking?” is a favorite question of mine to ask others especially when riding silently in a car for a while. A reply of, “Oh, nothing,” causes me to raise an eyebrow and to think and sometimes say, “you’re lying.” To think nothing means that there is an absence of any conscious thoughts - the head/thought space is completely empty. I don’t know if that is possible. It is a state of mind that I regularly seek. just like I try to sit and do nothing for a period. But like all empty space, something tries to rush in and fill the space. Thoughts are always circling even if it is only the thought, “I will not think about anything.” Thoughts always win the battle.

The key to any measure of success lies not in denial but in allowing thoughts to surface and then kicking them to the curb. The objective is to win the empty thought war but guess what? Thought’s goal is to win as well. It can be a war of epic proportion fought on the battlefield of the brain. Over time one learns how to be the victor and not the victim of one’s thoughts. Emptiness of thought, however brief, can be a place of great clarity. But I am not convinced that even this space deserves “oh, nothing” as an answer to the question.

Clarity can be a scary place of that I am certain. Clarity demands action. Clarity can be liberating. When I am clear about something or someone, I can walk away, accept, or change the course of action. All of which require courage. And for these reasons, the mind devoid of conscious thought is a worthy pursuit and sweet nuggets found from it are sustaining.

I believe that “thinking nothing” coupled with “doing nothing” for a short period is very beneficial for one’s psyche. It is not easy to achieve. So here are a few hints that might prove beneficial. They work for me - sometimes. I have discovered that the cellphone doesn’t disintegrate if it is out of sight, so I Disconnect. Disconnection opens the door. Drink – I am not necessarily referring to spirits – holding a cup of tea or coffee serves as a gentle reminder to be and to feel only. Watch – the clouds, a squirrel chasing another squirrel, a wasp on the windowpane, a butterfly doing its thing, all get me closer to the nothing space. Walk – minus headphones and listen for the sounds of nature. Let Go – of what? the guilt I might be tempted to grab and embrace about the nothing that I am pursuing.

Thinking nothing and doing nothing turns into a major project of “doing something” for myself. I am rebooting and rejuvenating the vessel that houses my soul. Said another way, “thinking nothing and doing nothing is preparation of self to do more of something.”

And should I ever ask you, “What are you thinking about?” please don’t say, “Nothing.”

Psalms 46:10

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---An empty mind is not necessarily the devil’s workshop. It can be a fueling station for a better existence.