“A person does not grow from the ground like a vine or a tree, one is not part of a plot of land. Mankind has legs so it can wander.”

—Roman Payne, The Wanderess

When I think of wandering, I think of detachment. I think of motion without maps. I let my mind wander. I wander with my kids through the woods or around a park. I think of meandering down trails of dirt and trails of thoughts. I think of that song. Or that Tolkien quote. It’s a calling and a command—to wander. And it’s no accident that the word “wander” and the word “wonder” are so similar. 

Allowing your mind to wander is something that you might not do very often these days. You always seem to have your phone in your hand, but wandering through Twitter or Candy Crush isn’t quite the same thing. You have deadlines to meet. Someone is seeking your attention. Of course you “should” be doing something else, something productive. You have a to-do list. You have emotions trying to interrupt your focus. There is obviously no time left over for mere wandering. But here’s the thing: wandering unties these demands like sandbags from the hot air balloon. And daydreaming, or a wandering mind, doesn’t get the credit it deserves as fuel or flame.

It is in our wandering mind where we discover delight. Where we find our way to new ideas and new paths to explore more deeply. Allowing yourself to wander has been proven to improve performance and productivity. If you take a quiet shower, you might find your most exciting ideas there, while you go through the well-worn motions of washing without thought, letting your mind breathe as the body moves on autopilot.

When you don’t have to think about what you’re doing or where you’re going, your mind rejoices. It jumps up to play. It gets excited and begins to dance as the binds of busyness loosen. 

This is why so many guides and gurus are telling you to slow down and find some quiet. Create some space in your life to simply be. Because it’s in these quiet undirected moments that magic happens. Your unstructured wandering paints the background for your brilliance to shine through. 

Some of my biggest personal insights about myself or other very important people in my life have come to me in that space of wandering. In fact, just yesterday, I met a friend for a walk. The track was circular, so we didn’t have to think much about our movement or direction. Most of the time, we maintained a peripheral awareness of the physical environment around us, and occasionally we glanced at each other to check body language. This walk, and hundreds of walks like it have done more for my personal growth and empowerment than nearly anything else. 

Yesterday, my friend supported, coached and counseled me. On other walks, our roles have been reversed. Walking gets us out of our heads and into our bodies so that whatever is buried underneath all of those busy, anxious, noisy thoughts can bubble up to the light. Moving the body unlocks the depths of our souls. When we move, we can process and integrate. We can surprise ourselves and play with new ideas or emotions or ways of being. 

Here we are in a brand new year. Yes, I know it’s already February. But we are still in the beginning of wandering into a new season. Can you feel it? Spring is on its way. So whether you’re still setting your New Year’s intentions or gearing up for a springtime revival, now is the perfect time to begin. You have some physical goals. You have some life goals, be they personal or professional. You are looking for clarity, confidence, balance and connection. 

Why not try a walk?

Taking a walk by yourself can work wonders. Here’s the invitation. Leave the earbuds or Airpods at home. Listen to the wind. Listen for the birds. Listen to your footsteps. Notice your breath. The expanding and contracting of your muscles. Follow the flow of your ideas as they crack open their shells and test out their wings.

Walking with a friend when you have something weighing you down can help to lighten your load. When we connect and carry each other, we walk in alignment with a larger purpose. Invite a friend to go for a walk. I walked with another friend a few weeks ago outside when temperatures were probably somewhere in the teens. It doesn’t matter where you go. It doesn’t matter how you move. Just move. It's powerful. We move our minds so much more effectively when we move our bodies at the same time. Fun fact, I’ve even done a few laps around my house as I’ve been writing these very words.

Finally, if you’re looking for some focused attention around a specific concern from a professional life coach, consider booking a Wandering Session with me. This is a full coaching session that unfolds as we walk side by side around a local Milwaukee track or trail. I’ve found such value in moving my body to unlock or unstick my mind that I want to offer that same breakthrough experience to you. If you’ve never hired a life coach before, it’s hard to know where to start. Here is your invitation to take the first step. Literally.

So when was the last time you allowed your body or your mind to wander? What was it like? Do you have a regular movement practice? How has it helped you to tap into your inner wisdom? Let me know in the comments.