#76 - Why Walking Works
Ambling, uninspiring, and unlikely places
Where do I go after such a gripping title?
I’ll try and do it justice.
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Ambling
First let’s be clear about what we mean by walking.
One foot in front of the other. Still with me?
But all walking is not made equal.
We’re not discussing hurrying here: The rushing that fills our days. Or the counting-down-the-minutes, headphones jammed in to make the journey less tedious.
What concerns us here is the amble. The walk with no goal but walking itself. That’s where the magic happens.
Uninspiring
Great thinking happens on ambles. They’ve spawned many of humanity’s biggest breakthroughs.
Rarely has the thinking been greater than the ambles of one Charles Darwin.
Darwin was a prolific walker. What’s interesting is the formulaic nature of his walks. It wasn’t over mountains or through breathtaking scenery. But around one uninspiring track in his garden.
Darwin would make a pile of flint at one point in his track, and with each lap he’d knock a piece away to count the laps.
That was it. He’d walk round and round, pondering the very essence of our life on earth.
Walking works because it allows the mind to wander. And a wandering mind, it transpires, is a wonderful thing.
Unlikely Places
We have two modes of thinking: Focused and Diffuse.
Most of the day is spent in focused mode. Our attention “focuses” on what’s at hand.
Focused thinking is good for getting stuff done but little else. It’s terrible for creativity.
Diffuse thinking happens when you remove the focus. There’s something about putting one foot in front of the other that leaves the mind free to wander.
We hold so much in our brains. Far more than you think is in there. When our minds wander we can delve into those depths.
The subconscious mind gets to work on the problems rattling around our heads.
Creativity blossoms and solutions come from the unlikeliest places.
The wonderful thing is that it’s inbuilt. You don’t need to learn anything to get started. Just put your phone in a drawer and go for a stroll.
Yet it’s hard these days. Ambles compete in your diary with everything from Netflix to pub trips. Who has the time?
With such stiff competition it’s near impossible to reach Darwin’s heights. But his breakthroughs are made. You can catchup with a short Youtube video.
The problems you’re facing are likely less of a leap. So start small, put one foot in front of the other, and see what happens. Good luck.
My Week in Books📚
The Gift by Edith Eger
Eger survived Auschwitz. This is everything she’s learnt about the human condition from that and a life as a psychologist since.
A wonderful book. All our problems are are caused by our own mind. She makes a compelling case.
(Thank you Ma for the recommendation 🙏)
I’ll be updating the books I’ve read this year here. Any recommendations? Let me know! See 2021’s books here.
A Final Thought 💡
“Moreover, you must walk like a camel, which is said to be the only beast which ruminates when walking.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Walking works wonders! Love Darwin’s little habit of counting his laps too.