BLANK
There are days after a diagnosis where your mind will not stop churning. It goes over and over and over again every little bit of information you have been given, every stat you have looked at, every possible outcome, every decision to be made and appointment to be had and fear to be assuaged.
I think that in the wake of a diagnosis, a lot of people go into overdrive to occupy their mind, to keep those darkest of contemplations at bay because to allow them into the light would be to welcome a nightmare. But, I’ve learned that a lot can be gained if we enable ourselves to lean into the absence of thought and allow ourselves the respite that can be found there.
Just like our physical bodies, our minds need rest and recovery as well. When we are going through periods of intense challenge, our brain kicks into survival mode and is constantly looking for ways out of the current predicament. Instead of allowing fear to keep us in that state perpetually, I encourage you to find regular moments where you quiet it and rest in blank headspace.
You may have heard the story of Einstein’s years at the patent office and his “miracle year” when he published four of his most successful papers. Many speculate that it was the “mindless” work at the patent office, the quieting of his brain during tasks that didn’t require it’s more advanced capabilities, that allowed it to work in the background and come up with some of his more astounding ideas and theories.
Though we may not all be geniuses, we can take a page out of his book. By letting our minds slow their roll, we can make some profound reflections that lead to perspective shifts and personal growth that better equip us for when we emerge from the folds of quiet contemplation back into the pace of our current existence.
It can take some discipline and practise to both enter that blank space and train our minds not to fill it with worries and fears once we get there, but using tools like meditation, writing, walking in nature, making art, starting a gratitude practice, or doing colouring pages can help us in our efforts to get there and tame that monkey mind. It’s well worth it, because you never know what helpful nugget your brain will find there waiting for you.
Happy Healing
