Our Daydreams Will Save Us

摘要

Like much of life, daydreams are all in the timing. Often arising at inconvenient moments, they're seen as spam sent to our brain, clogging it up with unwanted, spare thoughts. Even the word "daydream" is highly charged, com-monly used in a reprimand hurled by an irritated teacher or an impatient spouse. But that perception of frivolity and uselessness is fundamentally misguided, says Dr. Richard Davidson, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "If you can choose to daydream, and fully be present with it, it can be wonderful, creative, and active," he says. Now more than ever, of course, we have both time-and the need-to daydream. In uncertain conditions such as these, we can benefit immensely from blocking out unwanted or undesirable thoughts with creative riffing. First, try calling the practice "mind-wandering," or "fluid association," to dispel the negative connotations of daydreaming-and ditch the idea that it's related to our nighttime brain activity. Actual dreams are like sci-fi movies, often illogical and fantastic, and occur when all motor activity is suspended, preventing our body from acting them out. A daydream or fluid association, on the other hand, is like a soap opera. It's a viable, if at times far-fetched, story that stars you.