The Empty Mind
The difficult part of social media is you have to constantly say things. You need to almost always be top of mind. Especially if you’re trying to build any sort of brand.
For me, I’m not built to tweet 50 times a day. I hate spewing high level ‘junk’ or platitudes (unless they’re a part of my life).
It’s stretches of time like this where I have an empty mind. I enjoy being alone with my thoughts, or lack there of. It brings me energy and calmness.
One thing I want to understand is the meaning behind an empty mind. Nothing’s too pressing and nothing critically important. Is it good or bad? Now is when I tend to turn towards the writings of the Stoics or other important thinkers of our past.
Seneca wrote, “When you are retired and enjoying peace of mind, you will find to keep you busy more important activities than all those you have performed so energetically up to now…”. In the passage, he also mentions having time to yourself is important.
When I read this and look back, I think having a break in thinking or priorities is healthy rather than being preoccupied all the time. Instead of forcing words out of my mind onto paper, I’m content to just let the days roll by with nothing to say.
Sure, I’ll try to interact with people on casual or funny topics.
We can also circle back to time, the most finite gift we’re given. The older I get and more I read, I’ve begun to guard my time more and more. Seneca also says we value time as if we’re immortal.
So in the days of my empty thoughts, I’d rather be still with that than filling my time with wasteful or meaningless tasks or conversation.
