Is It True that Idle Hands are the Devil’s Workshop?
Growing up, I can remember the phrase, idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Don’t know who said it or how many times, I just know I heard it. Maybe from the sisters at St. Mary’s Grade School. Recently I read that when our minds aren’t busy working on something, they turn to anxiety and worry. Not sure what the science is behind this, but it sure rings true to me. It seems worry and anxiety are the default mode for the human brain, leading me to the question, “Is it true that idle hands are the devil’s workshop?”
Idle Hands
When we are swamped with responsibility we long for rest, an afternoon at the beach or a day at the ballpark or at a spa. We long for vacation. But when we get that vacation, our minds turn to thoughts of work and home. We worry – did I forget to turn off the oven? What about that account from work? Did all the data get entered? What about that email? Did I lock the house? Will I return to our home vandalized? Will there be multiple emergencies at work to deal with? All reasons for worry and anxiety.
Our brains, when not actively working on a task, turn to their default mode of worry, depriving us of the rest we so desperately desire. Perhaps leading to further anxiety, leading to paranoia and fear, leading to anxiety-based decisions not healthy ones. Yes, idle hands are the devil’s workshop, and it seems there is a scientific basis for this.
“The Default Mode (DMN) has strong connections to the emotional, anxiety, and fear centers of the brain, and parts of the brain that reflect thoughts about self, the past and the future. It is also involved in thinking about the intentions behind others’ behavior,” Dr. Neil Ranen.
Some people, when left too long to their own thoughts, turn to conspiracy and paranoia. They are convinced that the world is out to get them. For them, their idle hands are fertile soil for the devil to plant seeds of distrust and hatred. But others, left to long periods of silence, find their way to God. Ignatius Loyola, forced to remain in bed from a war injury, turned from the way of war and the world and turned to a life of devotion to God.
Are People Idle When They Pray?
We encourage people to spend quiet time with God in prayer, only to find they are beset by a multitude of worries and false presumptions. The mind, left to itself, can be the devil’s workshop. People in isolation can feed themselves a steady supply of conspiracies that lead to crazy acts such as the Oklahoma bombing. But that isn’t prayer. That is allowing the brain to run wherever it choses without constraint, without seeking God’s intervention.
One way to offset anxiety and the default mode is meditation. In meditation people actively seek to let go of the default mode in order to experience something outside of themselves, something greater than their selves. Some call this something greater God. Others call meditation prayer. Whatever you call it, it is far from idle even when it may seem so on the surface.
Changing our Default Mode
If you are one of the many people prone to excess worry and anxiety, it is possible to change your default mode. It takes time and effort, but it is well worth it. I know, because I’ve managed to do it. It’s a matter of knowing yourself and your own tendency toward negative thought patterns, working at positive reframing of those thoughts, and focusing on gratitude. Sometimes it requires seeking outside assistance to do this.
I still have a tendency to expect the worst, but I’m quick to remind myself of all of the blessings that are mine. I look at all of the times in my life when something I thought was going to be terrible turned out to be a blessing.
Is It True that Idle Hands are the Devil’s Workshop?
So, are idle hands the devil’s workshop? Yes and no. They can be. Idle time, quiet time, can allow the default mode to take over, allowing the devil to reign. Or it can lead to prayer and transformation. It’s all up to you.
What about you? Do worry and anxiety keep you awake at night? Have you changed this default mode, and if so, how?
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