The “What If Walk”
A Pedestrian Weapon for Solving Problems
This is not just an essay about walking.
Yes, walking is involved. There will be steps taken, possibly in sneakers, maybe in wingtips, perhaps in flip-flops. But this is not about walking for the sake of exercise, fresh air or any of the wholesome reasons that motivate people to move.
This is about hacking your brain. This is about turning a casual stroll into a turbocharged mental reset button—a secret weapon against the face-melting frustration of life’s more impossible problems.
I call it the What If Walk, and while it looks like a leisurely jaunt, it’s really a scientifically proven brain boost that rewires your brain to think differently.
Why Your Brain Needs a Hack
First, let’s acknowledge that your brain is both amazing and, frankly, a bit of a drag. When confronted with a seemingly impossible problem—like a looming deadline, a stubborn business obstacle, or a relationship issue that’s rocking your world—your brain tends to spiral. Circling the problem, seeing no solution, your grey matter gets madder, freezing up in frustration and deciding there’s no way out.
This is what psychologists call cognitive rigidity and what the rest of us call really annoying. Many refer to this as hitting a wall. Some of us emphasize this metaphor by actually hitting the wall while experiencing it. Such frustration is understandable. Your brain digs in its heels, refuses to try anything new, and insists that the best way forward is to stare at the problem harder. Spoiler: this doesn’t work.
What works is interrupting that doom spiral. Changing the scenery, leaning into creative language, your brain can be tricked into looking at the problem from a whole new angle.
The Walking Part (But With a Twist)
Walking, on its own, is already great for your brain. It gets the blood flowing, lowers stress hormones, and makes you look like one of those mysterious, deep thinkers who stride purposefully through parks. But when you pair walking with my powerful “What If” hack, your perambulations transform into something far more powerful.
Here’s how it works:
1. Start walking. This is the easy part.
2. Instead of spiraling into despair about your unsolvable problem, introduce a single, magical question: “What if?”
That’s it. Those two words are the key.
Why “What If” Works (Even When You Think Nothing Will)
Your brain doesn’t like being told what to do. And it understands what’s realistic and what isn’t. If you say, “I will fix this problem,” it might resist if the problem is too big. On the flip side, if you say, “I can’t fix this problem, it’s totally impossible” your brain will agree and stop searching for solutions.
But “What if?”—ah, that’s the sweet spot. It’s not a command or a declaration; it’s an invitation. It bypasses your brain’s defenses and gets it to imagine possibilities instead of shutting down.
What if we solve this problem?
What if we meet this impossible deadline?
What if we reframe this failure as an opportunity?
What if this client actually loves bold, risky ideas?
That wording trick shifts gears in your brain. Instead of an impossible problem, your mind has been given an intriguing puzzle. Now it starts to play. It gets curious. It goes exploring, uncovering solutions that were buried under layers of stress and self-doubt.
Why “What If Walking” Works.
Let’s talk science. This thing works not just because I need a blog entry today. It draws power from proven human operating rules.
Walking engages both hemispheres of your brain through a process called bilateral movement. This increases communication between the logical, problem-solving side and the creative, out-of-the-box-thinking side. Basically, your brain becomes a dynamic duo instead of two roommates who barely talk. This was proven in the landmark Stanford study of 2014, which showed that walking can boost creativity by up to 60%.
Add “What If?” and you’re activating your prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for imagination and complex decision-making. Research shows that simply imagining alternative outcomes can increase problem-solving capacity.
Now match that with So no, this isn’t just about strolling aimlessly. It’s about giving your brain the tools and freedom it needs to break through barriers.
The Emotional Side Effect: Optimism
Here’s the fun part: even if the solution doesn’t hit you right away, the act of asking “What if?” feels good. It injects hope and curiosity into a situation that previously felt bleak. You start to believe that the impossible might actually be possible, and that belief itself becomes fuel.
Life is serious, and business more so. That said, optimism is highly underrated within the daily grind. It’s not just fluffy feel-good stuff; it’s a proven driver of action. When you believe there’s a way forward, you’re far more likely to find it.
How to Do a “What If Walk”
1. Identify a problem in your life that you have no idea how to solve
2. Put on some shoes and go outside. Your living room doesn’t count—you need new scenery.
3. Start walking and ask yourself, “What if?” Follow the thread wherever it leads.
4. Don’t judge your ideas. Let them flow, even if they sound ridiculous. Creativity often starts with silly, impractical thoughts.
5. Keep walking until you feel a shift—an idea, a spark, or at least a sense that the problem is less daunting.
Why This Works (and Why You Shouldn’t Overthink It)
The What If Walk isn’t about solving every problem in one stroll. It’s about breaking the mental loop that tells you, “This can’t be done.” It provides a healthy alternative to doom-scrolling LinkedIn for “5 Habits of Highly Effective CEOs”. Just step outside, ask “What if?”, and let your brain do the rest.
Because sometimes, all it takes is the right question and a few steps forward.
Why not give it a try?
See what happens.
What if it works?