There’s a lot to be said about the hidden virtues of doing nothing “productive.” Top performers and strong leaders know how to stop, think and connect the dots.
I recently finished a book my mom offered me for Christmas: “Reims” by Yann Moix. I don’t necessarily recommend it. The writing style is borderline presumptuous, and the story is quite depressing about the miserable life of a business school student in the late eighties.
But, it just happened to be the very same school I went to, at about the same time!
As I painfully progressed through the 288 pages, something magical happened.
The author made numerous references to familiar places I had been to, events, or activities I participated in.
For the first time in many years, I started to think more deeply about this period of my life.
These were not specific memories but more thoughts and words flowing through my mind. Soon enough, I felt my brain going into overdrive, making sense of things I had left unprocessed.
What I went through can be compared to clearing your “mental inbox.” I took care of all this unprocessed stuff from thirty years ago that, one way or another, fueled my motivations and drove the choices I made since then.
I started to understand better the root of decisions I made and connected more dots that helped me realize who I am today.
As importantly, I finished the book with a renewed and serene sense of clarity.
What happened here convinced me further that reaching a state of mental clarity is essential for success in these days obsessed with ever-increased productivity and little time left to stop and think.
You don’t need a therapist to do so. You don’t even need to adopt fancy techniques of meditation. Just spend “me” time with your thoughts and dig into what you haven’t fully processed yet.
A trigger might help, like reading a book, watching a movie, listening to a song, or meeting that old friend or previous colleague.
But once you start developing your mental clarity, not only do you better understand where you are going. You also add meaning to your actions and your work.
So if you want to be at the top of your game, make sure you’re not just spending all your energy on sole productivity.
Find time to slow down, reflect, think, and address the “unprocessed.”
You will soon turn into a better decision–maker. You’ll internalize where you’re coming from, and it will help you reach clarity on where you’re going.
One final thought: you won’t be the only one to benefit! Your clear mind will help everybody who lives and works with you.