Yes - it's the same in any other work - the more you massage your

Siobhan Davies, the great choreographer and artist of movement, once gave voice to a truth that extends beyond the stage when she said: “Yes—it’s the same in any other work—the more you massage your thinking the more capable I believe you are of expanding how you go about things and learning.” Her words, though spoken from the realm of dance, belong to all realms of human endeavor. For they remind us that growth is not found in rigid thought, but in the patient, deliberate shaping of the mind, much as muscles are strengthened through repeated practice.

The meaning of this statement lies in the metaphor of massaging your thinking. Just as the body must be stretched, pressed, and loosened to achieve fluidity and strength, so must the mind. Davies teaches that to return to an idea, to turn it over, to challenge it and refine it, is to prepare the mind for expansion. In every form of work, whether artistic, intellectual, or manual, progress depends upon this inner rehearsal—this slow, deliberate reworking of thought until it flows freely into action.

The origin of these words is grounded in Davies’ own discipline. As a choreographer, she understood that movement is not only physical but mental. Every dance begins first as thought, an idea glimpsed and then refined, tested, reshaped. The act of choreography is itself a form of learning—a cycle of trying, revising, and discovering. In her reflection, she acknowledges that this same principle governs all human creation. The more we practice the art of questioning, of reflecting, of refining, the more capable we become of transcending limitations.

History provides echoes of this truth. Consider the philosopher Marcus Aurelius, who each night wrote meditations to himself, massaging his own thoughts, stretching them into wisdom. Through this discipline of reflection, he expanded not only his own mind but the reach of Stoic philosophy itself. Or think of the great inventor Thomas Edison, who tested thousands of filaments before the light bulb shone. Each failure was not an end but a massage of the mind, an act of refining thought into discovery. Both illustrate Davies’ teaching: that the repeated reshaping of thought is the very foundation of growth.

There is something deeply emotional in her words, for they invite us to see learning not as a burden, but as a living process. To massage your thinking is to treat the mind with care, patience, and respect, as one would treat the body in preparation for movement. It is to understand that mistakes, doubts, and revisions are not signs of weakness but necessary steps in the expansion of the self. Her wisdom frees us from the illusion that knowledge arrives fully formed, and teaches us instead to embrace the ongoing labor of reflection.

To future generations, her words are both encouragement and warning. The encouragement: know that you need not fear mistakes, for each one is part of the massage that prepares you for clarity. The warning: beware of rigid thinking, for the mind that will not bend cannot grow. Just as muscles atrophy without movement, thoughts that are never stretched become brittle and confining. The path of mastery requires continual renewal, continual shaping of the mind toward openness and possibility.

The lesson for us is clear: do not rush past reflection. Practically, this means setting aside time to revisit your ideas, to ask questions, to test assumptions, and to let your thoughts evolve. Whether in art, in science, in daily labor, or in relationships, take the time to massage your thinking, and you will find yourself expanding into new capacities. Like Davies, let your work be guided not by haste, but by the patience of one who knows that learning is a lifelong dance.

Thus her words endure: “The more you massage your thinking, the more capable you are of expanding how you go about things and learning.” Let them be passed down as counsel to all seekers of wisdom: treat your mind as a living instrument, to be stretched, tested, and renewed. For the one who tends to their thinking with care will never cease to grow, and will carry into every work the grace of discovery.