I am re-reading one of my favorite books, "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. In his book he talks about "watching the thinker inside of you" and "rising above your thoughts".
He suggests that instead of "buying in" to the negativity that we tell ourselves, to be a neutral third party. Just observing the thoughts come in and go out of your mind, without any attachment. Have you ever tried to do this? I have, and while I am aware of the thoughts, it's difficult for me to let some of them just go by.
I think Tolle is right though and some thoughts are useless and can hinder us. Our minds are tools to help us, when needed. They are not who we are.
So often our thoughts just go round and round, "mindless chatter". I mean really, how many times has a song gotten "stuck" in your head and no matter what you do, you can't seem to get rid of it?
Maybe we can't get rid of it because we keep getting frustrated with it. The more frustrated we get, the more we keep thinking about it. If we just acknowledge that the thoughts are there and let the them go by, as if it's no big deal, then they eventually will be no big deal.
Practice. Practice. Practice. I have a feeling this may take a while! :)
1 comment:
I try to change my thinking and I agree with GD says - I have to change my actions and the right thoughts will follow, not the other way around. I am not good at just watching the thoughts go by, I can't see them for thoughts just yet. For me I have to do something, take some verb and do something. Then I can get a perspective. When I try to watch my thoughts I can do it in moments of peace only. When I am in the thick of negative energy and negative self reinforcement, I can't seem to step back without doing something physically to remind me I am here. I don't know how to describe it, my head is such a sick place - like quick sand. I haven't tried this much though. The action thing seems to work pretty well for me so I haven't really concentrated on observing my thoughts. My friend Leah says to do it though. She offered a suggestion when I meditate: Watch the train go by, don't jump on to the train - the train of crazy thoughts and weird stuff, just watch it go by. That helps, too.
-SS
Post a Comment