Contemplations on Mindfulness - Innovating in a Discursive Time

Within the last year when speaking with a mentee about writer’s block, they were truly challenged by the task, to overcome self-criticism, and keep progressing on their deliverable. Caught in thought, a discursive mental pattern was holding them back.

Off the cuff, I commented “…this is really a time to suspend thought.” My reasoning was to take the ruminating and convert the worry into action. To take mental pause, thus interrupting the habitual cycle in order to take action to move forward.

Another colleague overheard the conversation and commented, “How can you just suspend thought? How could you not think about what you are doing?!” Interpreted as a rhetorical question, I thought 'fair enough.'

In our current time of pandemic and widespread societal disruption, simply stated, this could be another opportunity challenging each of us to suspend discursive thought. This time might possibly be presenting each of us that opportunity over and over again.

While reflecting on the exchange above, on one hand that is correct, we have to think about what we are doing in our day to day. In some sense, we have to be responsible. Yet on the other hand, that potentially constant criticizing voice each one of us has in our head, the voice emanating from thought; well it is perfectly ok to hit mute by acknowledging the voice and then letting it go. Right now, that harsh inner voice might take the shape of judgement, dread, fear, shame, etc.

A common quote among the contemplative meditation community is one from Stephen R. Covey, that “we are not even our thoughts…” Remember thoughts come and go continuously, not all are worth listening to or taking stock in every time. Sometimes thoughts are valid and prompt necessary action, and other times thoughts are best when let go.  

Yet in that free mental space, free from thought, there is an opportunity to create a new reality, spurring us to innovate or give birth to new concepts. In the gap, we could be called to think differently and solve new problems that we never have had to face before.

With our mind and talents, innovation will come from a liberated and free mental place even if that place is intermittent or seems temporary. Grounded in a clear-headed and clear-hearted place free of discursiveness, with practice connecting in each moment,

we might transform our thinking from discursive to pragmatic,

and that we may channel our pragmatic thinking into positive action.

In that space of mental liberation, we have a choice to innovate, be entrepreneurial, and see our situation with fresh eyes. No doubt we are facing challenging times, yet in these times, we have the most opportunity. While there is risk, there is also the greatest reward calling us to forge ahead, and drive impacts for humanity and the greater good. This is a time to harness our empathy, practice mindfully, and boldly strive for something greater than ourselves. Regardless of our situation, we can reach for an outcome that has not been crafted or delivered just yet, created within each of these new moments full of uncertainty, full of unbounded limitless opportunity.

Author’s notes: This article was written March 22, 2020 in response to the Swarm Strength campaign from the Georgia Institute of Technology Alumni Association encouraging alumni to independently share messages of positivity and encouragement to current students during these challenging times. Thoughts are my own. With any opinion piece, please abandon any concepts or notions that do not serve you.