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We have a tendency to believe and act as though our thoughts are somehow — us. We identify so deeply with what we think, that we confuse our thinking with how we feel and who we are or our identity.
When one is doing something like walking, for example, we accept certain things about engaging in walking. For example, here are some of the assumptions we naturally make:
We decided to walk, that we could have crawled, skipped, or dance;
If we want to we can stand still, or stop walking;
That walking is not what we are feeling;
That walking is not who we are, walking is not our identity.
When we think something that creates an emotion like anxiety, worry or fear …. we can fall into the belief that:
- We are somehow, our thoughts — that we are anxious or a “worry wort”;
- We forget that we have a choice about what to think about, we feel as though the choice is not there.
When one becomes AWARE of thoughts, as decided activities, as something that we are doing, that our identity is separate from our thinking … then … there is freedom …. to first observe our thought patterns … to understand them with compassion … then to change them …. merely by purposefully thinking something else.
How to control our minds and thoughts?
Curious Observer Stance Excercise
First, become an Observer of your thoughts, a curious bystander – watching your mind as it moves from topic to topic, spirals with a line of thinking, or perhaps is fixed on one line of thinking. Become a curious observer.
Begin the process of letting go of the judgement you might have about your thoughts … perhaps you see them as distressing, annoying, anxiety-provoking or even impractical. Replace this judgment with understanding, acceptance, and compassion.
Understanding Thought Waves & Compassion
The Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali offers a passage utilizing a metaphor for understanding the impact of repeated thought patterns.
It then provides a practical solution in changing thoughts to change the thought waves of your mind.
Let Go of Judgment -Acceptance – Compassion
Approach yourself and your busy mind, with compassion.
Compassion is essentially a loving kindness.
Accept that our Western minds race along and they have never been trained.
This is a path we share and you are not alone.
Acceptance one of the steps along the way to compassion.
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