The Healthiness of Starring on a Wall

In a world brimming with stimuli — smartphone pings, neon billboards, TV shows binge-watched at 3 a.m. — there’s an unsung hero in our midst. That beige, blue, or maybe brick red wall in your room. Yes, really. Welcome to the therapeutic world of wall-gazing!

Try it!

A History Lesson on Wall Staring

Wall-gazing, or the art of purposefully staring at walls, has roots deeper than you might imagine. The ancient Zen Buddhist practice of ‘Shikantaza’ or ‘just sitting’ involved meditating without any specific focus on breath or mantra, often while facing a wall. The idea was simple — when devoid of stimuli, the mind turns inward.

However, in today’s modern setting, what can staring at a wall offer to our Netflix-infused, coffee-fueled brains?

The Wall of Benefits

1. Mindful Meditation: The wall acts as a blank canvas for your thoughts. Without external distractions, your thoughts get a free rein, but over time, they tend to calm down. It’s like turning a snow globe upside down and then watching the flurry settle.
2. Boosting Creativity: Ever noticed how some of your best ideas pop up when you’re in the shower, staring at bathroom tiles? A wall serves the same purpose. With a quiet mind, the subdued hum of creativity often finds a voice.
3. Stress Reduction: The sheer predictability of a wall — its stoic, unchanging nature — can be grounding. There are no sudden notifications, no blaring ads. Just calm, consistent presence, which can be immensely soothing to an agitated mind.
4. Improved Focus: In an age of multitasking, training your brain to focus on ‘just one thing’ (even if it’s a wall) can be invaluable. Over time, this can improve concentration levels and reduce the frequency of that midday mental fog.
5. Visual Rest: In a digitized age, our eyes constantly flit from screens to screens. Giving them a break by letting them rest on a non-digital, non-blinking entity? That’s some high-quality optical downtime.

How to Master the Art

Staring at a wall might seem straightforward, but for best results, a bit of method to the madness can help:

1. Choose Your Wall Wisely: A wall without too much artwork or distractions is ideal. The goal is simplicity.
2. Set the Ambiance: While it’s not a strict requirement, dimming the lights or lighting a candle can enhance the experience. Some might prefer the soft strum of instrumental music in the background.
3. Posture Matters: Sit comfortably, either on a chair or on the floor, with a straight back. Think of it as meditation, but with open eyes.
4. Time it Right: Start with just five minutes a day, gradually increasing as you find comfort in the practice.
5. Embrace Whatever Comes: You might experience boredom, restlessness, or a torrent of thoughts. Embrace it all. Remember, there’s no ‘wrong’ way to wall-gaze.

Beyond the Wall

Once you immerse in the practice, you’ll start noticing its benefits seep into other areas of your life. A newfound patience while waiting in queues, a sharper focus during meetings, or a surge of creativity when you least expect it.

In conclusion, while it might appear counterintuitive, sometimes the most profound revelations come not from the chaos outside but the serenity of a simple wall. So next time life feels overwhelming, and the digital din gets too loud, remember there’s therapy, often just a wall away.