Sarah Beinner - Week 1 - A Clear Space is Not a Clear Mind
You know the saying a clear space is a clear mind, well I disagree with it. The meaning behind this saying is that people generally feel more at peace and less overwhelmed when they are not constantly surrounded by objects. However, in my opinion, having a clear environment can make you feel vulnerable and vacant.
The places that I most associate with clear emptiness are doctors' offices, psych wards, and prisons. Doctors' offices are typically very empty and sterile to keep from spreading illnesses; however, this also creates an unwelcoming and unsettling atmosphere. This contradicts the meaning of the saying since this clear space creates more worrying thoughts than less.
For the average person, when they think of a psych ward, the first image that comes to mind is an empty white room. This space is clear to keep patients from using the objects around them to cause harm. However, this environment can also drive someone crazy because it leaves them with nothing to focus on but their own thoughts. This is even more brutal because if you are sent to a psych ward, you probably don't have the most blissful thoughts.
As for the prison, it is empty, but it isn't clean; it is just lacking clutter. This means that you have to rely on others and yourself for mental stimulation, which like the psych ward, it will only drive you madder as time passes. Therefore, having a clear space will not necessarily create a peaceful environment because it can also be mentally damaging.
I understand that the examples that I have used thus far have been quite extreme, but my argument holds up in less extreme cases as well. For example, in a clear office space, while you are conceivably more productive, you are less likely to come up with a creative idea than if you were not at a bare desk. This is because the objects around you can spark inspiration. This is seen in artists who enjoy painting certain objects because they spark something within them. A common example of this is how an artist may choose to draw a blooming bright flower because it conveys a feeling of joy to them, or they could paint a distraught withered flower if they resonate with its conveyed feeling of despair.
I think that creating a space that is empty in order to empty your mind will do more harm than good. People are drawn to objects for a reason, and if you isolate yourself from them, you will only end up feeling more vacant and empty.
What do you think? Is an empty space more or less underwhelming and peaceful than a space that holds the objects that bring you joy?
I agree that a space that holds the objects that I love is more comforting than an empty space. However, I think that for this to be completely true the room has to be organized. If there are things lying around and everything is a mess, then it will be impossible to concentrate in that room. In fact, walking in can already be stressful. So, it is best to have a colorful and fun room that is organized.
ReplyDeleteI understand and think what your saying proves a valid point, however I believe that it is much easier to think, focus, and ponder your thoughts in a clean, plain, and empty room. But, I also think it is important to surround yourself with positive things you enjoy and that bring you ease and create an environment for you to concentrate and be happy in.
ReplyDeleteI think that, while some clutter and personal items can help spark creativity, too much of it can overwhelm someone and cause them to procrastinate. A messy environment is not a very productive one, but harsh, sterile, empty ones like you described are also detrimental to productivity. In the end, while it depends on a person's own work ethic, I think it should be wise to aim somewhere in the middle of clutter-and-clean, a space holding personal keepsakes but not to the point of distraction.
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