A SIMPLE MIND

Being able to think straight, clear, and simple thoughts can have a profoundly transformational impact on our lives, says Navni Chawla. This article delves deep into the process of cleaning up the mind of unwanted thought patterns which hinder our growth and happiness.

- Navni Chawla

Recalling a blurry incident from my early college days in 2013, I was in conversation with the head of the Mass Media Department at St. Xavier’s college, Mumbai. I wanted to change my course from Life Sciences to BMM (Bachelor of Mass Media), and when she asked me the reason, I said that I wanted to do something more creative. She asked me, “What, according to you, is creativity?” and before I could answer, she herself said, “It is the ability to convey an idea in the simplest way you can. ‘Simple’ is creative.”

The answer struck me. Even though simple, I felt that the statement was profound in its expression. Until now, I had associated creativity with the ability to think complex thoughts and structures. I had marvelled at the intricate patterns and layouts created by artists of high calibre and aspired to be able to emulate them one day.

The statement stayed with me and became a mantra of sorts for me, whenever I wanted to be creative in any endeavour of mine. I realised that to be able to achieve this level of expertise, I needed to be able to think simply. And that it was not an easy task.

I observed that the mind is one of the most complex entities humans have at their disposal. Mired by confusions, options, passions, needs, conditionings, desires, and prejudices, it rarely sees things for what they are and knows what it actually wants. If not reined in or disciplined, it could run haywire, submerge itself in negative and self-defeating thoughts, and be the cause of an all-round failure and a downward spiral in life.

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity. —Charles Mingus