Specifically you need to go on a walk in a labyrinth.
Hear me out — walking = good; walking in a labyrinth = great!
Labyrinth, maze; potato, potahto?
Nope, not quite. Think of it this way – a maze is a puzzle with many paths while a labyrinth has a single path, it’s not meant to be deceptive and is often meditative. Andy Hunt 1 says it better and this view might be a bit reductive but it does the trick, right?
Let’s focus on the meditative aspect of a labyrinth.
By being a single path, there is no need to overthink or think at all. The path is predictable and boring. We’re not thinking of what’s next, in fact we’re not thinking really about the labyrinth at a certain point. Walking in the labyrinth has basically become so mundane that our brains have turned off anything thinking related to it. In this mundane-ness, our thinking shifts from our typical structured thinking into the type of thinking that cannot be forced and is much more holistic and intuitive.
For the nerds, all of this is really just referring to the phenomenon that is the right-brain and left-brain.
Wait there’s just some hidden thinking waiting to be unlocked?
Think a little less fantastical.
For me, labyrinth walks allow my mind to wander into new spaces that I didn’t really think I had. I’ll be honest, nothing I am uncovering in these walks are necessarily profound or will solve HUGE world problems but it is invigorating and eye-opening.
When my mind does shift gears and suddenly I have a lot ideas and thoughts —I am not thinking about piddly day-to-day things. I am thinking about themes and how I really feel about a topic. It’s in the space I am able to understand what my opinions are and dive into why some things may not sit right with me.
Sometimes my minds starts playing out scenarios to the point one may just say “wow you have an active imagination” but in reality this comes in handy when I have an interview or presentation coming up and need to get into the right headspace to do my best.
I have actually gotten in to the practice of jotting down random thoughts that come into my head to remember when I am in front of a computer. How else do you think I first thought this would be a good topic to write about.
What I am trying to say is that often times we are stuck thinking a certain way — thinking in a manner that is set around tasks and structure. By giving our minds a break from that type of thinking, we give space to another type of thinking — one that is less focused on marking items off a to-do list and more focused on bigger picture things. Things that might inspire a big, bold move. Or things that will help you define yourself as a person.
Alright let me just go find me a labyrinth somewhere
Near where I grew up there was is a church who actually advertised “come walk our labyrinth”. Now I’m pretty sure this was actually apart of this denomination’s practice but until I understood what “come walk our labyrinth” meant I thought it was ridiculous.
What does that have to do with you, dear friend, finding a labyrinth to walk?
Absolutely nothing. 0% relevant.
Just one of those moments when you know you’re never going to have an opportunity to tell that tidbit.
On to more useful things.
Let me just say this…I get it. The word labyrinth makes it sound like you need to find a specific location to do your walking in order to reap all the benefits. This is not true. In fact, do like me. I just walking up and down the streets in my neighborhood or walk countless laps around the park. As long as the path is set (read: I don’t have to think about where I’m going), the objective of labyrinth walking has been met.
So buckle up kiddos, hot girl walks are out and labyrinth walks are in.
- Hunt, Andy. Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware. United States: Pragmatic Bookshelf, 2008.