Let’s go for a walk.
Let’s go for a walk! In Kahneman’s book “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” I’ve discovered the fascinating differences between two thinking systems. While in beautiful San Diego, where I served as a youth pastor for nearly six years, I thrived in a lovely neighborhood! It was hard to resist the temptation of stepping outside, especially when the gorgeous California sun beckoned me to explore the delightful, sunny streets. Walking is truly one of my favorite activities! I once believed that we only had one way of thinking—what I called ‘regular thinking.’ However, Kahneman enlightens us about two distinct types. System one feels like my brain is on cruise control—quick, effortless, and like a car on autopilot. As I meander through my neighborhood, my thinking naturally falls into system one, which flows without much effort. When I prepare for my sermons, get ready for meetings, or plan events, I love taking walks because fresh ideas fill my mind—it’s such an enjoyable experience! What isn’t quite as enjoyable is when I have to carve out time to sit down and push my brain to engage more deeply—what Kahneman calls system two. System two takes on the heavy lifting, tackling complex issues requiring serious mental effort. He says, “Laziness is built deep into our nature.”[1] Yes, our brains tend to favor ease, and it’s natural that we shy away from thinking deeply when we don’t have to. But pushing ourselves to engage involves activating system two.
In 2014, I was fortunate enough to intern in Southern California. This was my first experience diving deep into ministry with one church. I fondly remember how my supervising pastor decided to launch a second church service just to allow me to practice my preaching skills. I thought I had a handle on preaching until I found myself in a weekly routine. Until I challenge myself to think harder, I’ll keep operating in system one. “The illusion that one has understood the past feeds the illusion that one can predict and control the future.”[2] At that time, it was one of the most challenging experiences for me because I wasn’t used to preaching on such a regular basis. I had to seek out new study materials to build my sermons, find fresh illustrations, and weave in my life experiences to make them sound “awesome.” I wanted to be an amazing pastor in my preaching, but I certainly wasn’t there yet!
No one enjoys hardships, but it is during difficult situations that we learn to navigate life more effectively. If someone is always on mental autopilot, they won’t learn anything new or challenging. “The world in our heads is not a precise replica of reality.”[3] When challenges arise, our brains shift into System Two, allowing us to think more critically and grow. Too many people simply let their instincts take over in everyday life. They get angry, sulk, and react to situations instead of thinking them through. When something appears in the news, it’s easy to respond; however, without research, our responses could be based on false information. Kahneman points out that thinking is hard work; therefore, we need to push ourselves to think critically for our own good and for those we serve. He also gives an example of using critical thinking to seize opportunities when asking for what we need. For instance, if someone is hungry, that is not a good time to make a request. I remember traveling with my family as a kid. When I noticed my dad laughing and enjoying himself, I seized that moment as an opportunity to ask him for something I wanted (though I can’t quite recall what it was) and he agreed. If you have an interview or an application needing approval, try to schedule it when you know the decision-maker will be at their best.
Overall, instead of sitting in a room all day, get up and take a walk. If the weather outside is frightful with snow or rain, come visit me in Hawaii, and we can walk together! While our minds tend to run on autopilot, engaging System Two in our thinking is beneficial. Also, if you need something from someone, you can take them to get some shaved ice, or schedule an appointment after their meal.
[1] Kahneman p. 31
[2] Kahneman p. 201
[3] Kahneman p. 144
About the Author
Ivan Ostrovsky
4 responses to “Let’s go for a walk.”
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Ivan, I love that you thought you could remain on a System 1 state of automatic for preaching weekly until you had to do it! It can be true that if we have done the hard work of thinking, reflecting, praying and preparing for messages over time, then the adrenaline can kick in and provide extra clarity, focus and energy, but it doesn’t work without the longer term System 2 preparation!
Do you find walking helps you process your thoughts around preaching topics or your internal life or is it more of a time to be calm, relax and avoid deep reflection? I’m always curious in others use of fresh air, walking and being outside for their emotional health reasons.
Betsy! I use walking for everything: exercise, sermon preparation, calming myself from the chaos of life, and making lots of phone calls. To work on sermons and other speaking engagements, I’ve learned that I can’t rely solely on System One but must shift to System Two. Walking has definitely helped me in my sermon preparation. One thing is to write my sermon down; another is to refresh my thoughts with clean air and sunshine to keep my mind clear.
I like taking walks alone so that I can think more deeply. My biological body it concentrated on movement, seeing hearing and other sensations, so it doesn’t get in the way of my thinking and deeper feeling. Maybe I even feel like God is at his best (I know, sort of sacrilegious, but still part of my emotional baggage, striving to be good enough to even come before him) because I am walking in nature and thinking of him as Adam and Eve did in the garden.
“Fresh ideas fill my mind” same as you wrote, but I wonder if this is the heavy lifting and the hard work. Creating, renewing and transforming our perspective on the world seems the real things of the engaged mind.
Ivan,
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about the ability to rely on false information or statements without doing the proper work or research. It is easy to manipulate information or leverage channels to share false information without spending energy and time seeking the truth. Does that raise any concerns for you?
Sunday morning walks have been beneficial and influential in centering on the weekly reading. Have you been able to leverage the time on a walk differently over the years? I just discovered that the walk could serve a dual purpose.