"La majeure partie de notre vie est un effort prolongé pour s’empêcher de penser"

The quote suggests that a large part of our lives is spent trying to avoid deep thinking. If you strip it down, it's basically saying we often distract ourselves to avoid confronting our own thoughts—pretty wild, right?

Now, let's dig into why someone might say this. Historically, this idea has been around for a while. Think about ancient philosophers like Socrates, who encouraged constant self-examination. Fast forward to modern times, and you'll find people like Aldous Huxley pondering similar themes in their works. Why do we do it? Well, deep thinking can be pretty uncomfortable. It forces us to confront our fears, our shortcomings, and sometimes, the harsh realities of our world. It’s much easier to scroll through social media, binge-watch a series, or lose ourselves in routine activities.

Take John, for example. He’s a 35-year-old marketing manager who works 9 to 5. John’s day is packed: meetings, emails, strategy sessions. When he gets home, he immediately turns on the TV and zones out to the latest Netflix series. Weekends? Packed with social events, errands, and maybe a bit of sleep. John never really has time to sit down and think about his life, his dreams, or any existential questions. He’s caught in a loop of constant activity, and honestly, sometimes it’s on purpose. Thinking deeply might reveal that he’s actually pretty unhappy with his job, or maybe that he’s not as close to his family as he’d like to be. It's easier to stay busy.

So how do we apply this wisdom? Start small. Give yourself 10 minutes a day to just sit and think. No distractions. Let your mind wander. You might be amazed at what comes up. Sure, it’s going to be uncomfortable at first. Your brain will probably scream for the dopamine hit of a quick check on Instagram. But stick with it. Gradually, you can increase this time. Maybe even journal your thoughts. It’s a fantastic way to process what's going on in your head.

Imagine you’re in a coffee shop, and your friend is telling you about how they’ve been feeling kind of lost lately. They're always so busy, but something feels off. You suggest they try this 10-minute-a-day thinking challenge. A week later, they tell you they had a revelation during one of these sessions—they're not happy in their job and have been ignoring a passion for painting. It’s like a light bulb moment. They decide to take a weekend class, and you can see the change in them already. That’s the power of giving yourself the space to think.

In essence, we’ve got to stop running away from our own thoughts. It’s scary, but it’s also incredibly freeing. And who knows what you’ll discover about yourself? Life is too short to live it on autopilot. Start thinking—and start living.