In a Disassociative State of Mind
Why Do We “Zone Out?” And Some Behaviors That Are Nearly Identical
We all have those moments of zoning out or disassociation. Sometimes, we may be staring at our computer screen for minutes on end and be forced to wrack our brains to recall what on Earth we were planning to do. Other times, we are driving down the road in a state of mild disassociation and find ourselves running a stop sign or almost getting in a collision. It is easy to get frustrated and even critical towards others who seem to have a constant knack for going into space. “Earth to so and so!” is such a common phrase for people who frequently “check out.” But what if this state of disassociation is positive in proper contexts and doses? Although disassociation and zoning out are also negative in other instances, examining the phenomenon can help us to better appreciate its relative positives and negatives.
Creative Process and Problem Solving
Research shows that idleness and mind-wandering can be good for creativity. When someone seems to have mentally zoomed out, their brain may actually be just as busy as when they are super-focused on a task or zoned into the moment. Putting those other parts of the mind to use can help enhance other modes of thinking and being. Imagine you are trying to paint a picture or pick up a piece of writing. Closing your eyes or letting your mind go to distant places to find a creative spark or new insight can help you reach so many riches.
Expanding one’s mental faculties can also be critical in disciplines requiring critical analysis and induction. Albert Einstein famously stated, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” However, he was not expressing the common view that empirical investigation or rational analysis should take a back seat to whims of fancy. Rather, creative vision and whimsical intuition could help one unlock Nature’s hidden secrets just as much as strict measurement or critical assessment. While the classical view of the scientist(or “natural philosopher” before that) was someone who carefully recorded observations and measurements or vigorously tracked variables in the lab, Einstein became known for his unmatched creative visions and dreams transporting him to uncharted wonders of the Universe. As wondrous and miraculous as these creative faculties are, scientists, artists, and others would emphasize the importance of balancing critical analysis and rational induction with meditative reticence and disciplined creative zest to begin mining the unlimited riches in just a small parcel of the Cosmos.
Deeper Values and Spiritual Matters
Is it not the case that everything in the universe has a level of unbounded complexity and unlimited mystery to it? How can humans fully fathom the magnificence of the Sun or the Milky Way galaxy, for instance(and these celestial entities are hardly a speck of our observable universe)? Can we adequately wrap our minds around the simple fact that all of the trillions of cells in one human person contain and process more information than all of the information humanity has ever produced? How would anyone be able to know the difference between zoning out into no thoughts at all or the mind stopping in wonder and awe at the deeper transcendent and incomprehensible dimension of things? Studies have found that the same part of the mind that “zones out” is activated when people are asked to talk about their deeper values or what is spiritually significant to them.
Imagine you are just leaving a church service on a Sunday morning and you are walking across the street to your car. You are so moved by the sermon or the choir music, perhaps hearing phrases or notes playing in the back of your mind. All of a sudden a car horn honks at you, bringing you back to the everyday world where you realize you have been slowly waltzing across the street for a long while. The same situation could be imagined if you have just left a classical orchestra performance or opera, and the spiritual and emotional depth of the music has transported you to faraway lands. Such moments of spiritual or even mystical elevation are positive and even necessary to help us connect to the sacred and numinous. But of course, the challenge becomes remembering the sacred in balance with the mundane.
Some Form of Meditation is Key
All of this talk about zoning out or using different parts of the brain are great. But have we forgotten that there are whole disciplines and crafts devoted to tuning in to other parts of our minds and hearts? Numerous age-old types of meditation are profoundly renewing and bring countless health benefits. Meditation has been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and decrease anxiety. Checking out and then checking in through meditation also helps to put us back in connection with what is beyond ourselves, even making us more mindful and compassionate.
The nice thing is that you don’t have to join the early morning session down at the community center to enjoy the benefits of meditation. There are innumerable types. You can sit in quiet contemplation or prayer. Mind-calming activities like walking or gardening can also be great forms of meditation. Meditation is not so much a shutting down of the mind, but rather a recharging of the mind, heart, and spirit to realign with what is at the heart of things.
The Deeper Value of Zoning Out, and Some Possible Perils
So tuning out or zoning out can be a profoundly positive and healthy activity. Rather than turning us off, such states of mind or being can realign us with the sublime and ultimate mystery of the Cosmos. How critical to remember our place in the unlimited vastness of everything! You yourself are much more than just the small shell you so quickly pace around the world in — part of the whole dancing Cosmos. And the Cosmos is infinitely grand and wondrous, holding an unlimited array of worlds dancing to and fro every second.
However, certain perils can come from zoning out, especially if done in the wrong contexts or in the incorrect doses. Too much disassociation can be a sign of tiredness, anxiety, or numerous mental health conditions. Zoning out at the wrong times can be disastrous for our jobs, relationships, or personal activities. If we find ourselves zoning out too much, it may be time to consult a mental health professional or other trusted expert.
One positive twist to many negative instances of zoning out is itself a wonderful paradox. If we are “out of it” far too often, the demand may be for us to actually make efforts to zone out in positive ways. Taking time out to meditate, focus on the present moment, and access creative faculties can help us to recalibrate and reenergize so that we can be more fully present in what is going on around us.
