Remember when motivational quotes were all the rage on Instagram? It was deep. Then there was a transition into professional photography, and now, we’re saturated with motivational videos.
This of course is not unique to Instagram, there are little pockets across the web dedicated to inspiration and motivation. Why though? Like, what’s the point? Sure, they can be the ‘ideal’ we aspire towards, but they don’t describe a process or have a nicely organised list of steps to follow.
Honestly, we can sometimes feel childish or a little idiotic getting so worked up over a quote, right? Or is that just me?
Are quotes just really a big catfish? Just luring you in and creating a false sense of possibility?
Well actually, yeah. Quotes aren’t really so much to rely on or subscribe to. They’re a reminder of the possible.
I came across the idea of ‘nonsensical quotes’ in the book ‘The French Art of Not Trying too Hard’ through a small passage on self-hypnosis. Techniques like visualising places you love, talking to yourself to change your mood—stuff like that.
Therapist François Roustang explains 3 exercises to suspend his thoughts. You would use these exercises when say you’ve got stage fright or about to attempt something important to you. To calm those nerves or the ‘adrenaline phenomenon’ as pianistHélène Grimaud describes it.
Exercise 1: Fix your gaze on a limited part of an object. Like the head of a pencil or a pattern on a cushion. Removing the context from the isolated point you’re looking at.
Exercise 2: Go into your imagination, somewhere you love, somewhere that gives you pleasant feelings.
Exercise 3: Nonsensical language. Or more casually: motivational quotes.
For example—
“Take a path you don’t know, to reach an unknown place, to do something you’re incapable of doing.” Phrases like like this, though apparently meaningless and highly risky, once heard and put into practise open up a space of freedom and pleasure, where existence can be renewed. – Ollivier Pourriol, The French Art of Not Trying too Hard
A reminder of the possibility. Removing any specific tasks or goals. Letting vagueness and confusion settle in. Here is when we can begin to float, and flow. We let action take shape. You can’t write instructions, because everyone interprets the words uniquely.
Although ambiguous, quotes are admirable in their purpose. They can help us clear our brains, soothe our nerves, or ignite a surge of inspiration and energy. Quotes can serve as a way to refocus our energy, bringing us out of the objective and into the subjective.
It’s never about the literal quote itself, but about what it conveys. The abstract. Try to capture the message behind it, or, yourmessage behind it. Maybe it’s a reminder to take risks and trust oneself, or a reminder to be kind to yourself and take a break once in a while.
Whatever you find in the quote is what matters, not where you found it or who wrote it. They’re a tool to help reset your mind, but only if you’re willing to internalise the underlying meaning.
I agree that sometimes quotes are misplaced or don’t hit quite as they should, but I can not presume assume everyone agrees. It’s just my view. But still, don’t just skim the surface. Reflect on a quote and let it help you reach an alternative, inspired mindset.
Stop thinking.
Nonsensical language can trigger a new headspace. Of course “stop thinking” is not what you should literally do. We’ve all got to think, but for me it’s the ideal of “stop thinking too much”, or “stop overthinking”. We read quotes and make sense of them for ourselves.
Gather some nonsensical quotes, keep them close and use them when you need to take a step back. To be reminded of the bigger picture—the possibility.
We get caught up in endless rounds of jouska—the hypothetical conversations we compulsively play out in our heads. The tiny situations we construct in our brains.
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” – Seneca
And a quote may be the thing we need to pull it back into perspective.
Stop thinking.
Stay safe, and pass-it-on.
Here’s a brief summary of this letter to strike up a conversation with someone:
Quotes are like special words that can help us feel better or help us remember something important. Like little reminders for our brains that can help us stay calm, be kind to ourselves, take risks, and trust ourselves. They can help us relax, or help us feel inspired to do something great; to take a step back and remember the bigger picture. They help us remember that there is always something possible, even if we don't know what it is yet.