The Courage to Choose Not to Think — Why We Need the “Sacred Blank Space” Now More Than Ever
【Genre】Philosophy / Society
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Hello everyone. This is Akira.
When I read the concept of a “List of Things Not to Think About” on Nikkei Woman Web, something strangely tugged at my heart.
Among the various thoughts that come to mind, I write down the ones I really shouldn’t deal with right now and decide, “I won’t think about this now.”
After encountering this idea, I gradually began to rethink how I use my own mind.
And then I realized something.
The very act of choosing “not to think” can be a rather powerful form of resistance.
We who live in the modern world are, almost unconsciously, under constant pressure to “keep thinking about something.”
When a problem arises, we are told “think more.”
When we feel anxious about the future, we are told “face it properly.”
When we try to rest, we blame ourselves, thinking “maybe I haven’t thought enough yet.”
This kind of atmosphere has quietly seeped into us as if it were natural.
But when you think about it, it’s strange.
Why do we have to keep thinking about something all the time?
Why do we feel so uncomfortable with the state of “not thinking”?
I believe this is where the core question we should ask philosophically lies.
There is a phrase called “sacred blank space.”
This does not simply mean a state of nothingness, but intentionally leaving a space where you don’t have to fill it with anything.
Since the modern era, we have increasingly treated “blank space” as nothing more than a lack or meaninglessness.
However, originally, blank space was supposed to be a highly positive margin for restoring thought and quietly affirming existence.
The act of deliberately writing down “things not to think about” on a list is a small but clear attempt to create this blank space ourselves.
It is not mere escape, but an act of temporarily withdrawing from the compulsion to think, in order to reclaim oneself once again.
What is important here is that “not thinking” is not merely a means to relax, but can become an active choice to defend oneself.
In a society that demands “always think, always be productive,” deliberately slowing down the speed of thought and creating blank space is a kind of quiet resistance, and at the same time, an ethical act to affirm one’s own existence.
To protect the “sacred blank space” does not mean simply not thinking about anything, but to regain the power to draw the line yourself on “what you should not think about right now.”
Once you become able to draw that line, the ability to concentrate when you need to think will naturally recover as well.
Of course, I do not mean to irresponsibly say “you don’t have to think about anything.”
However, what we who live in the modern world are facing is the fact that “thinking” itself is being forced upon us without us realizing it, and is becoming a cause of exhaustion.
In such a situation, the courage to choose “not to think” is not merely a technique for rest, but may become a philosophical practice to reclaim one’s own thoughts and existence with one’s own hands once again.
That is what I believe.
Akira
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