That’s the title I read in some news yesterday (not sure whether it was for scientific study or just a piece of advice). The post seemed to recommend letting our minds wonder as a healthy practice to help us relax. Honestly, I only read the title, and the first few lines, because my mind didn’t let me read more. He already started to wonder, thinking about my own dilemma with daydreaming.
I believe that if you love reading and writing, you will definitely have your share of daydreaming for both based on imagination. When you read you imagine the story, and when you write you make up a story. It’s all about imagination, about letting your mind wonder. However, the dilemma arises when things become a bit too much, causing an embarrassing state of lack of concentration.
Imagine you’re deeply absorbed in writing or reading your book, feeling the narrative’s conflict. Then, all of a sudden, you have to pause because other duties call. You think your mind has paused as you engage in your chores. Sometimes it does, but other times it doesn’t. That’s when your dilemma of lack of concentration begins.
Now, if you imagined the first scenario, you can imagine this dilemma in another part of the world, with someone getting ready to pray.
She puts on her prayer dress, spreads the prayer mat, and steps on it. After the first few moments of good concentration, her mind starts wandering back to the blog she was thinking about writing. Not only wondering, he’s giving her some ideas. She blinks, trying to drag him back to her prayer.
‘That’s not me, that’s the devil whispering,’ her mind plays the innocent, diverting her to a new distraction. ‘And oh, yes,’ she agreed for who else could she blame if she couldn’t blame herself? Now her mind starts wondering again, thinking how to send the devil away.
‘You’ve never cursed before,’ her mind reminded. She almost giggles imaging someone cursing while praying.
‘Let me think of a different tactic.’ Her mind wonders again, this time to find a solution. ‘Here it is: Instead of whispering , read the verses loud.’
She does, but this idea, like a magnet, brings her family around. Of course, they wonder why she’s praying out loud. Is she’s trying to get their attention? Now, though her gaze is down on the prayer mat, her mind let her imagine their worried eyes on her.
Only God knows how she manges to hold back her laughter! Finally, the prayer is done, but for how long, and how accurate? She doesn’t know. But there is one thing she is sure of: God is Merciful and although we won’t be pardoned for abondoning our prayers ( Salaah), we will be pardoned for the unintenional distractions.
See, letting your mind wonder could be a good excerise for relaxation, mediation, and creativity, but things should be under control. Otherwise, your life would be nothing but an imaginary story.
With all the best wishes,
Nahla
Pure and Simple 