Hello wonderful people,
And welcome back to the Wisdom Workshop Newsletter, with quotes and links for living a life worth examining.
This is issue #43, with resources for positive-constructive daydreaming,
inspired and supported by members of the first creative innovation workshop 🧙♂️
💎 Some Inspiring Quotes for Mindful Daydreaming
“The gaps are the thing. The gaps are the spirit’s one home, the altitudes and latitudes so dazzlingly spare and clean that the spirit can discover itself like a once-blind man unbound. The gaps are the clefts in the rock where you cower to see the back parts of God; they are the fissures between mountains and cells the wind lances through, the icy narrowing fiords splitting the cliffs of mystery. Go up into the gaps. If you can find them; they shift and vanish too. Stalk the gaps. Squeak into a gap in the soil, turn, and unlock—more than a maple—a universe.”
― Annie Dillard, writer and author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
“The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”
―Robert M. Persig, writer and author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
“To live in the gap between past and future is quite simply the human condition, even if culturally dominant and politically convenient views of time, history, and the future obscure it from us.… It makes me wonder if one meaning of “having time” is to halve time—to make a cut in chronos and hold the past and the future apart as much as hope will allow.”
―Jenny Odell, activist and author of How To Do Nothing and Saving Time
“We accept graceful falling
Of mountain cherry blossoms,
But it is much harder for us
To fall away from our own
Attachment to the world.”
―Ōtagaki Rengetsu, 19th century Buddhist Nun and Poet
🔗 A Few Links to Complement Mindful Daydreaming
“The Origins of Positive-Constructive Daydreaming” in Scientific American. The summary: “A Positive-Constructive daydreaming style was associated with openness to experience, reflecting a curiosity, sensitivity, and exploration of ideas, feelings, and sensations. Poor attentional control was related to low levels of conscientiousness, and guilty-dysphoric daydreaming was positively related to neuroticism.” Just one of the reasons I’m exploring mindful daydreaming.
From a hunch that positive-constructive daydreaming can help us see various versions of our becoming, I found this encouraging message that we can practice seeing the possibilities in ourselves and others. In "The Art of Possibility,” Benjamin & Rosamund Zander encourages us to adopt a mindset of possibility and generosity towards ourselves and each other (especially if we’re teachers). Their loving relationships also confirms that speech is a kind of music.
And, lest we get carried away in our mental wanderings, a final reminder that getting what we want doesn’t make us happier. In "The Surprising Science of Happiness," psychologist Daniel Gilbert argues that we can learn to be happier by understanding how terrible we are at predicting what will make us happy. His book, Stumbling on Happiness, is surprisingly funny… and it serves as a nice bit of encouragement to take our uniquely human powers of prospection seriously.
🧰 Mindful Daydreaming as Part of a Creativity Toolkit
Dear ChatGPT, can you talk to me about positive-constructive daydreaming?
Positive-constructive daydreaming is a concept developed by Dr. Jerome L. Singer, a psychologist and researcher who specialized in the study of imagination and daydreaming. According to Dr. Singer, positive-constructive daydreaming involves letting the mind wander in a way that is purposeful, positive, and constructive.
Positive-constructive daydreaming involves three main components:
Positive imagery: This refers to the mental images that people create in their minds during daydreaming. Positive imagery involves imagining positive outcomes, scenarios, and events that make people feel good and uplifted.
Meaningful reflection: This refers to the process of reflecting on one's experiences and emotions during daydreaming. People engage in meaningful reflection by contemplating their thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
Purposeful problem-solving: This refers to the process of using daydreaming as a tool to solve problems or generate new ideas. People engage in purposeful problem-solving by using their imagination to come up with creative solutions to challenges they are facing.
Positive-constructive daydreaming can help reduce stress and anxiety, enhance creativity and productivity, improve mood and well-being, and increase resilience and coping skills.
To engage in positive-constructive daydreaming, it is helpful to set aside some time each day to let your mind wander.….
🧙♂️☕
I know we can let our minds wander in the shower or on walks, too... can you generate another list of "in-between" activities during our days that would be conducive to practice daydreaming?
Yes, you can certainly practice positive-constructive daydreaming during many different activities throughout your day. Here are some examples of "in-between" activities that you could use to engage in positive-constructive daydreaming:
Commuting: If you take public transportation or drive to work, this can be a great time to engage in positive-constructive daydreaming. You might choose to listen to music that inspires you or simply let your mind wander while you're in transit.
Waiting in line: Whether you're waiting in line at the grocery store or the bank, this is an ideal time to engage in purposeful problem-solving. You might use this time to think about a challenge you're facing and brainstorm creative solutions.
Doing chores: Tasks like washing dishes or folding laundry can also provide a great opportunity to listen to an inspiring podcast or simply let your mind wander as you complete your tasks.
Exercising: Physical activity can be a great way to clear your mind and engage in positive-constructive daydreaming. You might choose to go for a walk or a run, or engage in a more structured activity like yoga or tai chi.
Taking a break: Whenever you take a break from work or other responsibilities, this is an ideal time to choose to take a short nap, read a book, or simply sit quietly and let your mind wander.
Overall, the key to engaging in positive-constructive daydreaming is to find moments throughout your day when you can let your mind wander in a purposeful and constructive way. By practicing positive-constructive daydreaming regularly, you can enhance your creativity, reduce stress, and improve your overall well-being.
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✌ Thanks for Reading
Feel free to reply to set up a conversation … or you can find what I’m doing with music and the Wisdom Workshop elsewhere on the web.
Always appreciate your feedback, and happy daydreaming,
Sean
Upcoming Real-Life Wisdom Workshops
🧝♂️ Want to join the wait-list for the Wisdom Workshop in Writing the Good Life?
If you’re approaching a midlife transition and want to practice clarifying what matters through weekly group gatherings and daily writing habits, we’d love to have you. Capped at 8 people. Start date/times to be determined. Information and testimonials.
🧙♂️ Want to join the wait-list for the Art of Living Beautifully?
If you want to nourish a creative lifestyle, deepen your aesthetic attention, or kick start a worthy pursuit in artistic becoming, we’d love to have you. Capped at 8 people. Start date/times to be determined. Information and a testimonial worth sharing: “this group has turned something that was a source of depression into a source of joy.”
Also, for fun,
🎵 Saturday, March 25 : Sean Waters and Friends at the Forge Publick House in Fort Collins, Colorado | 21+ | 8-10pm ////
New music coming out this spring, follow along on Spotify or Apple Music.