All systems need downtime to reset and function properly, including your central nervous system. Imagine what would happen if you never shut down or restarted your computer: it would develop memory leaks, performance would gradually decline, and it would become vulnerable to external attacks as updates fail to install. Your mind and its thoughts are vital parts of your nervous system, and they also need regular downtime to reset. Deep and restful sleep, going for a walk in nature, or relaxing on the beach can be helpful, but if your mind is occupied with repetitive negative thoughts (RNTs), your nervous system will not reset. RNTs will create fatigue and tension in your body, and can sometimes lead to physical pain.

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Positive thinking is often celebrated in our culture and can be helpful when replacing negative thoughts. However, if you don’t first address your emotions, it can become a sophisticated form of suppression. The harmful effects of emotional suppression are well-documented and may include increased anxiety, anger, and depression, potentially leading to illness and physical pain. I practiced positive thinking for decades to avoid painful emotions. The result was chronic lower back and neck pain, tendonitis in my joints, and various other mind-body symptoms. While expressing your emotions might seem like the only way to prevent suppression, there is a deeper approach.

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As a child, I remember walking into church and receiving a pamphlet about the dangers of meditation. It contained stern warnings about how the devil could exploit an empty mind, which instilled a deep fear in me. In many Christian communities today, meditation still raises concerns about foreign religious influences and a godless spirituality, fostering fear of meditation. A broader fear of silence adds to this, as we’ve become used to constant noise from TVs, radios, phones, and other media. However, these fears come from misunderstandings about what meditation really is and how it relates, both practically and historically, to Christian tradition and everyday life. When understood properly, meditation is not something to fear; instead, it’s a helpful tool for improving emotional and physical health and strengthening faith.

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