A. A. Milne Had It Right…

When he wrote, “Think, Think, Think” for Pooh Bear.

You’re… pretty much a bad ass “thinker,” when you can start off an article… for a manliness website… with a quote from Winnie the Pooh.

People have been thinking about… “thinking” ever since there’s been people.

I’m finding that my EMERGING MAN job responsibilities have me break down different ideas that I run into, into smaller, more understandable parts… first for me… then for you.

I’m finding I employ the same tactic while doing small mechanical jobs.

In order for me to understand, say a… simple diaphragm fuel pump… I’ll take it apart, get a good “look see” inside to see how it’s put together… put it back together… operate it… then do it all over again… maybe twice over… just so that, “I know, that I know.”

It’s smooth sailing for me after all that.

That’s a different type of thinking.

I know that… because other people have told me that.

The other “thinking” penchant that I have… is asking questions… good questions.

How do I know they are good… again… other people, the people that I’ve asked, have said, “Hey, that’s a really good question.”

That’s happened a hand full of times, in the last few months.

The latest question being, “How is it SUPPOSED to work?”

From the dawn of time… right up to when I wrote “The Definite Dad” (available on Amazon, wink wink) men, of all types of character… have written on the topic of THINKING.

So as your EMERGING MAN guide today I would like to put forth a thought for you to think about and ponder on.

The goal.

What is it when it comes to OUR THINKING? Why can it be so congested and confused?

Here is my current understanding, and what I think, THE GOAL we are trying to achieve is.

Ready?

It’s called… “the empty work bay.”

Just like in any good work shop, your mind needs a good work bay.

Empty, and clear? Yes.

Emptiness? No.

Emptiness invites encroachment.

If you just have an empty space, between your ears, or in your work shop, that just invites encroachment of clutter, weeds, and awful thoughts.

Where are we headed?

What does an empty work bay look like?

The work bay… has to be CLEAR, the work bay has to be OPEN, the work bay has to have room enough for you to MOVE AROUND the job, the work bay has to have the TOOLS for the specific job… or nothing gets done.

All these, I’ve found, are the same with our mind, our MENTAL WORK BAY. For us to be able to truly work out our thoughts and beliefs, we need the space to… “look under every leaf” “turn over every rock” “looking high and low” “to turn it over, and over, in your mind”.

So our goal is to clear and organize our mind, so that, we have a good work bay, to work on our ideas, beliefs, and world views… one by one… with the right tools… in order to fine tune our old jalopy of a brain, into a sleek and powerful Aston Martin DB5.

Where do we learn how to “think” in the first place?

Did you ever think about thinking before?

Growing up I had tons of questions?

But the world doesn’t have time for a dumb kid, asking all kinds of dumb questions.

So I learned how to read.

I could just get lost in a comic book, a western, and sometimes… I’d take a saunter through the dictionary, just to see if i knew the words.

But… as that may have satiated my questions, I don’t think they helped me to develop… how to think, how to be clear, how to be open to something new without being judgmental and closed off right away.

I do not promote “same think”, we may end up agreeing, or not, but the way we took to get there had some similarities.

Take a look into yourself, and ask yourself, “Is my mind cluttered? Do I have a mental work bay, where I can “work on stuff” or am I a garage that has gone OUT OF BUSINESS and has been turned into a “latte’ no foam” coffee joint?”

I think we all, after becoming aware of it, have a cluttered mind. It’s a natural tendency. If something isn’t taken care of… it erodes, crumbles, and gets plugged up.

Take a moment and clear a small space.

Try to fit one small idea into that space.

And you will see, your mind, likes to think. It likes to work.

And little by little…

you’ll create the space, and mental fortitude… to fit bigger ideas in there.

Books… old and… new… are the preferred TOOLS for the MENTAL WORK BAY.

Whether that’s ‘The Definite Dad’, by yours truly… or ‘Zen in the Art of Archery’ by Eugen Herrigel… or ‘As A Man Thinketh by James Allen… each in it’s own way exploring the minds need to THINK… each in it’s own way helping us to answer the question…

“How is it suppose to work?”

At the end of “As A Man Thinketh” Mr. Allen writes…

“Tempest-tossed souls, wherever ye may be, under whatsoever conditions ye may live,

know this: in the ocean of life the isles of Blessedness are smiling, and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming.

Keep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought.

In the bark of your soul reclines the commanding Master; he does but sleep: wake Him.

Self control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power.

Say unto your heart, “Peace, be still!””

The Emerging Man… thinking to… ENCOURAGE, EQUIP & ENGAGE… today’s cluttered mind.