Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘One of the most marvellous properties of the brain is its ability to continue working unconsciously when the conscious mind has moved on to something else. I’m not talking here about basic processes such as the regulation of breathing or the control of motor functions during a walk, but about higher cognitive processes. If you ponder the solution to a management crisis and take a walk around the block, your brain will persist in looking for answers. If you think about an explanation for the unexpected results of your latest research and need to attend a meeting, your unconscious will plough on while you try to focus your attention on what the chairperson is saying…

Unconscious thought works optimally if we do something that relaxes us, something that doesn’t require too much mental capacity (a little is fine) and puts us in a pleasant frame of mind. We mustn’t be too euphoric, but we must feel good. If we are out of sorts, the unconscious is less cooperative. First, a negative mood causes us to narrow our minds. This has a function: a sense of negativity is a signal that we have a problem. We home in on that problem in order to solve it. Moderately positive emotions signal that things are going well and we can think freely. Extremely negative emotions also absorb processing capacity. If you are seriously worried about your partner’s health and waiting for the results of hospital tests, you can’t work on something that requires brainpower and creativity, whether consciously or unconsciously.’ (from the Guardian)