Now and then, for reasons I don’t quite understand, my mind just decides to wander off to the store for a quart of milk.
I think most of us can relate to the experience of being in one place physically when our mind decides on its own to just wander off in another direction.
But there is beauty and an art to freeing yourself to wander with conscious intention.
It also requires a bit of courage.
We live in a world dominated by productivity and trying to squeeze in as much activity as possible. Even during months of social distancing during the pandemic, most people worked overtime trying to stay busy.
We baked, we cleaned, we binged watched television.
Anything to feel productive and fill the gaps of silence and inactivity.
But it’s simply not possible to stay focused all of the time, and pushing yourself to will only lead to exhaustion and mental depletion.
On the other hand, there are some pretty impressive benefits to freeing your mind to rest and wander.
Have you ever misplaced something and while on a walk, or about to fall asleep suddenly remembered where it is?
Maybe you’ve been relaxing in a hot bath or shower, and suddenly had a brilliant idea pop into your mind?
The act of simply allowing our bodies and mind to relax and wander can lead to a path of creative thoughts we sometimes forget we’re capable of producing.
Whether you’re striving to achieve a goal, working through a period of hardship, or looking for a creative solution to solve a nagging problem, letting your mind wander could lead to your next great idea.
A combination of focused thinking and periods of freeing your mind to relax and wander are essential to both creativity and productivity.
To provide you with some inspiration, I hope you will enjoy this collection of my favorite quotations on the beauty of freeing your mind to wander,
To Wander is to Be Alive
I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else. ~Shelby Foote
Even the wildest dreams have to start somewhere. Allow yourself the time and space to let your mind wander and your imagination fly. ~Oprah Winfrey
Open the window of your mind. Allow the fresh air, new lights, and new truths to enter. ~Amit Ray
If you want to know where your heart is … look where your mind goes when it wanders. ~Author Unknown
What a joy it is to just let my curiosity wander unleashed. ~James C. Collins
I have found treasures in places I did not want to search. I have heard wisdom from tongues I did not want to listen to. I have found beauty where I did not want to look. And I have learned so much from journeys I did not want to take. Most of all, I have learned that miracles are only called miracles because they are often witnessed by only those who can see through life’s illusions. ~Suzy Kassem
Sometimes when you lose your way, you find yourself. ~Mandy Hale
I love being lost. Having things figured out is boring. ~Author Unknown
Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe. ~Anatole France
I am a wanderer. but I don’t wander to explore the outer physical world, I do it to explore the universe inside me. ~Appu Nirmal
Some of the most beautiful places can’t be discovered without getting lost. ~Author Unknown
She didn’t always know where she was going and sometimes, she got good and lost. Yet she couldn’t help but notice that occasionally the detours provided the most delightful surprises – as long as she wasn’t in too much of a snit about being lost to pause and look around. ~Queenisms
At a certain point, I need to go wandering. I need the colored threads of the sky to tangle inside me, let the fresh air in, and pull me somewhere new and unfamiliar. ~Megan Harlan
When I am nowhere, casually wandering about, I feel I am right where I need to be. ~Marty Rubin
We are all wandering souls in search of someone or something that can finally take us home. ~Hania Zehra
And for the loners among us …
I don’t socialize. I don’t network. I hate parties. I love my solitude. I love my loneliness. I am living life fulfilling my responsibilities. I love wandering. I love silences. ~Avijeet Das
The Takeaway
Freeing yourself to wander physically and mentally is a beautiful ability, which when used with thoughtful purpose leads to enhancing your creativity and productivity.
Great ways to let your mind wander include going for a walk, taking a leisurely bath, cooking a simple meal, or any other activities that don’t require you to be focused.
You’ll be amazed at how conscious periods of relaxed wandering will improve your emotional state and ability to think.
Will you be the passenger or driver in your life journey?
About Marquita A. Herald
Marquita is an author, resilience coach, and founder of Emotionally Resilient Living. She’s also an unapologetic workaholic who loves red wine, rock n’ roll, road trips (and car dancing!), peanut butter cookies, and (especially) a dog named Lucy.
She’s saddened and frustrated by excuses and cruelty and believes authentic compassion is the most powerful force in the world.
To learn more about Marquita and the mission of Emotionally Resilient Living Start Here.
