Solitary refinement …..

by Sunil Bali, 14-04-13

We spend about 10% of our waking hours with our eyes closed; blinking far more often than is necessary to keep our eyes lubricated.

Researchers at Japan’s Osaka University have discovered that the brain powers down during each brief moment of shut-eye. During this "idle" period thoughts are able to wander more freely because conscious thought is momentarily disengaged.

If you think about when you’ve had your best ideas and been at your most creative, I suspect that it’s been when you’ve been out for a walk, in the shower or daydreaming…..and probably on your own?

Dreamstorming it would appear is more effective than brainstorming.

Researchers have concluded what many of the great sages from Descartes to the Dalai Lama have known: a period of solitude enhances creativity and well-being. Successful human doing needs a human being to be still; at least for a short while.

Sometimes you can see more clearly with your eyes closed.

So how about starting or finishing each day with a little solitary refinement and your eyes wide shut?

Humour

A distraught wife went to the local police station, along with her next-door neighbour, to report that her husband was missing.

The policeman asked for a description of the missing man.

The wife said, "He is 35 years old, 6-foot 4-inches, has dark eyes, dark wavy hair, an athletic build, weighs 185 pounds, is soft-spoken, and is good to his wife."

The next-door neighbour protested, "Your husband is 5-foot 8-inches, chubby, has a big mouth, and is mean to you."

The wife replied, "Yes, but who wants HIM back?"

Sunil