filling our ears and mind with something other than our own thoughts .
If you do happen to pass me on that trail , I ’ m not consuming noise , I ’ m making it . As I ’ m moving forward , my synapses start firing , and I become engulfed with some idea or message that I want to discuss . If you look at my Instagram Reels , you ’ ll see video after video I ’ ve made while hiking those hills . I ’ m coming up with ideas instead of consuming a podcast of someone else ’ s .
If we ’ re going to pay attention to the details of our day , then our eyes need to be open to what ’ s happening around us and in us . We need to be aware of what we ’ re paying attention to in the moments where it feels like “ nothing ” is going on .
The Importance of Doing Physical Things in the Physical World
So much of our work and creativity is taking place on the computer , I think we need to make some intentional choices to do physical things in the physical world . To create and work in something that uses more of our senses .
For myself , I was spending so much time on the computer and writing as my main creative outlet that the computer was becoming this place of unrest and uncreativity for me .
Without making some big conscious longterm choice about what I should do it to fix this , I found myself being drawn to making things out of reclaimed wood . Never visualizing myself as a craftsman or “ good with my hands ” in that respect , I found such excitement and freedom in creating home goods with reclaimed wood .
I got so into this , I created another side business called “ A King ’ s Dream ” where my wife and I would go to artisan fairs and set up an entire store in a parking lot . Selling my books , yes , but also selling all these things I had helped bring back to life with my hands . It was so incredibly rewarding and life-giving .
This creativity would then carry over into my writing and speaking . I remember one afternoon I was staining wood in my garage and started thinking about college graduation coming up . Next thing you know , I ’ m filming myself giving a whole graduation speech right off the top of my head . The creativity bubbled and flowed . My mind felt free to explore and try new things . I was giving myself permission to fail , experiment , and be creative in ways far beyond what I thought capable .
I think it is massively important for each one of us to find spaces of creativity and enjoyment in doing physical things in the physical world . Gardening has become another one of those things for me . Not only does your body need you to stop looking at a screen , get up , and get out of your chair , but your mind does too .
Quiet spaces in our lives are sacred . We
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