Sometimes staying in the void, as terrible as it is, provides its own way out. Spend long enough in the void, and eventually the thoughts that need processing will find their way into your attention. This presents a different issue though: since the user’s mindstate has grown accustomed to being in the void, the user does not consciously recognize when they are processing the needed thoughts. With so much wild negativity flowing through our attention at any given moment, it is easy to see how a user could fail to recognize the thoughts that need to be dealt with immediately. This method of getting out of the void is “passive”, there is not much that the user can do to speed the process up. It can also be thought of as “sitting in the void” for a little bit. Just to be clear: this is not the “wallowing” that I discussed earlier using the waves metaphor. The earlier metaphor would more aptly describe someone who feels like they belong in the void, that this place of uncertainty and confusion is actually good for them permanently. “Sitting in the void” requires one to use emotional intelligence to “check themselves” and recognize that they are, in fact, in some sort of void. Next, the user must realize that this void is a temporary state, and that since they got into this state, there must be a way out of this state. This creates the will/reason for the plan. Next, they may try to focus on how they got into the void, or what the cause of their current state is. This is sometimes possible, sometimes not. The user may be able to walk their thought chain back, “rewinding the footage” to see the exact moment when the void began to form. Sometimes, however, this is not possible, either due to external circumstances or perhaps the fact that the user just isn’t that in touch with their inner thought processes. This is okay! While personally I feel that it is everyone’s responsibility to master their own mind, I also recognize that this is just my current viewpoint, and it may change or be entirely incorrect. That’s okay.
Sometimes this method does not work. Sometimes, one sits in the void for far too long with no “aha!” moment; the thoughts that need processing continue to swirl around and become more and more fragmented. In times like this, external stimuli is often the solution. There is no recipe or exact formula that I am aware of, as the needed stimuli varies with each person and situation. (No two storms are the same.) In times like this, it is good to actively engage with the world in ways that one normally would not. The interaction could be as small as checking out at a gas station or waving to someone as you pass by. It could also be as large as, oh, say, writing an entire essay on a very abstract topic with no planning, drafts, or research path laid out beforehand. I am unaware of how to know beforehand what interaction will do the trick. Personally, I sometimes gravitate toward an activity or project intuitively, other times I may “pump myself up” with the cheesy and stereotypical motivational tools. Phrases, quotes, deep breathing, even that picture of the kitten looking into the mirror with a lion staring back that says “it’s how you see yourself that matters”. That last one, I will admit with a laugh, has inspired me and helped me out of the void before. When we see these cheesy motivational tools, we may respond with a laugh or a smirk or a smug air of superiority-we are above such cheap emotional tricks as these. We are smart enough to recognize that these “hang in there” posters really don’t mean anything, it’s just a picture of a kitten. But the truth is that they do have some utility, and we are only humans that are not, can not, and should not be “smarter than our emotions” by refusing to accept that we can be influenced by the ridiculous, colorful, cartoony poster that says “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!”
I apologize for writing a lot of this section from a first-person point of view. The reason I did this is because this section focuses on “getting out of the void”, and that varies with each person and each void. (No two voids are the same, since the state of our system is never the way it was) The two methods I have discussed can be summed up as “sit in it until you feel like getting out” and “read/look at/listen to/watch stereotypical motivational materials”. This second method may feel like a cop-out, but think about this: these stereotypical motivational materials are stereotypical for a reason. The phrase “You can do it!” is repeated so often because it is: 1. Short and simple, 2. Showing support for the individual and whatever goal they are trying for at the time, and 3. applicable to damn near anything. It makes people feel good to hear someone say “You can do it.”. Because if they think so, then maybe, just maybe, we can.
One more tool I would like to mention is pleasant sensory experiences. Being in the void is somewhat comparable to having a bad trip, and as anyone who has had such an experience knows, sometimes a fuzzy blanket is just what a person needs. If a fuzzy blanket isn;t your thing, then go stand outside and feel the sun on your face for a minute. No sun? Sink into a soft chair or bed and lay there for a minute. No bed or chair? Have a small snack, like a single pretzel. Chew it slowly and really feel the texture on your tongue, how it might be different than other foods. No snacks around? Take a deep, slow breath through your nose, breathe out slowly, and take a slow drink of water. Really feel the liquid in your mouth and on your tongue. When you swallow the water, feel it go down your throat and feel the small relief that comes from your body thanking you for the water. No water? Get some water. Water is essential to life. Stay hydrated. The important part of this is to focus on the powerful signals coming from your sensory inputs to “shock” you out of the void and back to reality. I mention this because it is simple and works for nearly everyone, but doesn’t do much to address the rejected emotions that cause the void in the first place. They will return until they are addressed and alter the state of the system in the way they are meant to.
