Enhance Mental Clarity & Sharpen Thinking by Doing This One Simple Activity
Challenged by a problem? Are thoughts scattered or unfocused? Stuck or struggling to decide what action to take? A lack of clarity can bring our lives to a standstill. Finding a solution in those moments doesn’t have to be radical, it could be as simple as just taking a walk.
Lack of Clarity
When you’re unclear on something, the uncertainty results in uncomfortable feelings. If you’re truly honest with yourself and check-in with the emotions that sit under that uncomfortableness you’ll notice fear.
Fear is a powerful emotion. As emotions influence the decisions we make, fear often disguises itself as a way to protect us from harm resulting in; stuckness, indecision and unfocused thinking. Facing fear is not easy, we want to block it out and by doing so we also block out a way to move forward. A simpler and kinder route could be to walk it through.
Walking: A Freedom in Movement
On Friday I had the privilege of facilitating a walking coaching session, something I’d not done in ages. Walking has a powerful effect on our physical, mental and emotional health. Significantly walking was part of a lot of my clients self-care routines during the lockdown. I’m now noticing, as we are increasingly moving towards a new normal, there is less willingness to go out, less priority on using walking to support headspace and forgetfulness of how exhilarating the endorphins are when you are physically active.
There is plenty of science-backed research that proves moving forward physically inspires psychological action. Walking can help you, both literally and metaphorically take steps to move forward; using pathways, junctions, changes in terrain, don't forget the sensory elements of sight, smell and sound as part of your walking experience.
You benefit from having a holistic experience; engaging both your mind and bodies unlocking the deadlock in thinking and finding freedom that emerges as you get out of your heads and into your bodies.
Decisions Emerge
A pivotal moment during the Friday session was as we walked under a canopy of trees, an instant darkness changed the tone of the conversation. It was right to then slowed down the pace, encourage the uncomfortable discussion to not be rushed through but experienced. A pathway then started to open up in front of us, we used it to discuss possible solutions until it came to decision time. Whilst we stood at a three-way fork the options, challenges, assumptions and expectations were explored. As a decision was made, I asked if there were stories that needed to be left behind; walking away from those stories was a visceral experience for both of us, letting go of their importance was freeing. At the end of the session, there was a renewed energy, focus and readiness to take on the challenges.
Self-Coaching Activity
Stanford University discovered the act of walking helps creativity & decision making and it doesn’t have to be in nature, busy urban areas or even walking inside on a treadmill can bring about fresh perspectives.
What you need is to:
Set an intention: What would you like from the experience: fresh perspective, newness, relaxation, a solution
Identify the challenge, name what is getting in your way of moving forward
Establish and start an endpoint, so you can focus on the intention, challenges & finding a solution
Firstly allow walking to calm your thoughts, before focusing on the intention - slow down
Next, breathe & just think about what the intention and the challenge is and as you walk look around and relax, you don't have to force an answer
Consider the environment around you to help move you forward: pathways, junctions, traffic lights, trees lines or train lines, rivers, canals, graffiti, rubbish piles, leaves; it’s all layers to the experience
Consider your pace, do you need to slow down or speed up. Use your senses - what meaning do they bring to your experience of sight, sound, smell
Allow your thinking to emerge, and it will if you don't force it
As you make decisions standstill in those decisions and affirm what they are. Then make conscious decisions to move forward with that decision
As your walking time draws to a close, record your thinking on your phone or on a pad of paper, before enjoying the endorphins - you have done the work now, decision making, enjoy your happy space
Lao Tzu said; “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” the obstacles you face will seem less significant as the moments of clarity emerge, you just need to be willing to take the first step for the new to to unfold before you.
