• I do too, in a way - I find it helps to think about what help I need,

    The interesting (to me) thing is that as soon as I’ve read this, my mind said “duck programming”.
    (For the blissfully uninitiated, duck programming is when a software developer explains a problem to a rubber duck. The solution will often present itself during the explanation after having been hiding in plain sight for hours up to this point.)

    Do.you think atheistic prayers work in a similar way?

    The human mind sure is a fascinating thing.

    • Yes, I believe that’s a part of it. Just the act of formulating “this is a problem that I don’t know how to solve, please help” sometimes starts some kind of problem solving of my own.

      But another thing that “atheistic prayer” does for me is that if/when that thing happens, I’m more likely to notice it. And a problem dissolving by itself, or due to someone helping me, is something I really want to notice.