When you release a problem from the forefront of your mind, it doesn't just vanish; it simmers in the background. Neuroscience explains that the brain's default mode network (DMN) takes over. This network is active when we are not focused on the outside world and the brain is at wakeful rest, like during daydreaming and mind-wandering. It's in these moments of detachment from the immediate task at hand that the DMN helps us integrate thoughts and emotions. The spiritual counterpart to this process is often likened to opening oneself to a universal consciousness or a higher self that guides us beyond our conscious reasoning.
Moreover, while the basal ganglia process learned behaviors and habits, another area, the brain's right hemisphere, associated with creativity and insight, becomes more active. This hemisphere excels in piecing together disparate bits of information, even those that seem unrelated, into a coherent solution. It's the 'aha' moment when the answer seems to arrive out of nowhere.
In a spiritual context, this moment of insight is sometimes described as an awakening or receiving wisdom from a higher plane. The spiritual belief is that by quieting the conscious mind, you allow your inner wisdom to surface. This wisdom, some might say, is connected to a larger, cosmic wisdom that interlinks all beings.
So when science and spirituality converge, they suggest that by redirecting your attention away from your problems and towards the rhythm of your breath or the sensations of your body, you're not just calming your mind. You're also setting the stage for deeper insights to emerge, allowing both your brain and your spirit to work together in harmony to bring forth the solutions you seek.