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PaperclipPerfector  8mo ago (text post)   1911 thread views

Wellness Wednesday for September 6, 2023

The Wednesday Wellness threads are meant to encourage users to ask for and provide advice and motivation to improve their lives. It isn't intended as a 'containment thread' and any content which could go here could instead be posted in its own thread. You could post:

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  • Encouragement. Probably best directed at specific users, but if you feel like just encouraging people in general I don't think anyone is going to object. I don't think I really need to say this, but just to be clear; encouragement should have a generally positive tone and not shame people (if people feel that shame might be an effective tool for motivating people, please discuss this so we can form a group consensus on how to use it rather than just trying it).

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I have theories about ingesting too much information and too much screen time leading to a lack of independent thought and creativity. I'm currently looking into ways to strengthen creative areas in my mind and other brain centers that may have atrophied over years of the above.

The biggest core concept is allowing your mind to rest and avoiding overstimulation and concentration. Meditation is great for this kind of thing. You can't fill a cup that is already overflowing. Your mind can't generate new ideas when it is burdened with thoughts. I've also heard in adjacent spaces that boredom is a good catalyst for imagination and creativity. See how you go.

This feels true. I have noticed that when I am experiencing a subjective feeling of "being stressed out," I react by doing all sorts of mind-occupying or mind-killing activities; almost as though I am hiding from using my mind for anything.

Many great writers, C.S. Lewis to take one example, strongly recommended taking long walks often. I used to do this, and have drifted out of the habit. Maybe now that the weather is cooling off, I can get back into that; and with no headphones, in a familiar park.

I can add support to this. Daily meditation has definitely boosted my capacity for reflection and somewhat creative, independent thinking.

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