Soul Sculpting Project: Unhelpful Thoughts? “Drop It” 

Where does your mind like to go when you let it wander?

I took a long easy drive today to check out the snow level at the ranch. Bumpy–go slow– dirt road, no traffic. A drive I have done many times. This is an invitation for my mind to wander. Today I decided to sit back and watch it wander.

I noticed that maybe half of my thoughts were on topics that could use some reflection and decision making. This mind wandering was pretty useful and a couple of times I needed to stop the truck to write  some action steps.

Relaxed, down-time for our minds turns on our brain’s default network and that enables us to make some fresh connections. Good work can get done.

The other half of my mind wandering was not as constructive. This was  worrying, fussing, ruminating on topics that I have little influence over.  I watched my muscles react by tensing up. I am guessing my heart rate increased, but the road was too bumpy to tell for sure.  As I bumped along and observed my thoughts I remembered something that I discovered long ago about thoughts and my body. Every thought I have seems to have a bodily reaction. My body is listening to my thoughts and reacting as if they were all really happening.

This is not good.

I decided to try a game. I’ve watched dog owners play it often. It’s called Drop It”.

The dog has something in its mouth that the owner wants out of the mouth. The owner says, “Drop It”. And the cooperative dog quickly drops the item. Uncooperative dogs are, of course, another matter.

So here is what I did. As soon as I noticed my mind had wandered onto a topic that was not helpful I said, “Drop It.” My mind was in a cooperative mood so the game went well today.

My drive became much more pleasant as I restricted my mind wandering to helpful topics. It will be interesting to try this game on a day when my mind is less cooperative.

Default Network System

A healthy brain needs down-time. Time to relax and wander.  For those of us who are interested in production/getting lots of  things done, it is nice to know that down-time can actually be significantly  productive.

Brain scans show that even when our brains are not in focused attention they are still quite active. Our brains are designed to make good use of down-time by turning on our default network system. This less focused system can roam around the brain more freely and create fresh and novel connections. Many “eureka!” discoveries  are made in down-time. 

Mind Wandering with God

I find down-time to be a great time to connect with God. I am more relaxed and am in a listening frame of mind. As I mind wander with God I  often get ideas that feel Spirit led. Insights, corrections, good fruits like peace and joy can emerge.

However, my wandering brain in down-time is not always healthy and doesn’t always wander onto helpful topics. So I’m trying this Soul Sculpting Project for the times my brain needs to shift to the helpful.

Soul Sculpting Project: Unhelpful thoughts? “Drop It”

1. Invite God’s company.
2. Let your mind relax and wander
3. When your minds begin chewing on unhelpful topics say, “Drop- it” and offer your minds a new topic to chew on.

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Colossians 3:1-2

On my ranch drive I discovered that our snow level was low enough we can begin fencing (fixing fences, that is). That means I’ll  have many more bumpy rides to practice my new “drop it” game this spring. I hope you will enjoy this game and that your roads won’t be quite as bumpy.

For more on the default network system and the value of down-time see Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less Alex Soojung-Kim Pang