The HIDDEN truth: what your thoughts AREN'T telling you š¤Æ
Donāt believe everything you thinkā¦how to reclaim control over your mind to experience more peace, joy, & success | recorded guided meditation inside
Hi friend!
It's been nearly two months since my last newsletter found its way into your inbox. š¤Æ And so as I sit down to write this, I do realize how āquietā it's been.
And so for those of you whoāve been here for awhile, thank you for continuing to be here. For those of you who are new ā welcome!!
Oh lifeā¦.
It has an interesting way of working things out, doesnāt it?
With all of lifeās twists and turns, it can often times lead us down unexpected pathsā¦.
& in the midst of it all, it's easy to lose sight of our intentions and it's even easier to get caught up in our own thoughts.
And speaking of getting caught up in thoughtsā¦
You know that saying, "Don't believe everything you think"?
ā¦Well I've been thinking about that a lot lately.
Because how often do we let our thoughts control us without questioning them?
How often do we create stories in our minds, and then believe them too?
āDonāt believe everything you think,ā
But the real question here isā¦ how does that work?
ā¦Like how do you NOT believe the thoughts youāre having when they are YOUR thoughts?!
Here's what Iām learning:
Our minds are incredibly powerful, but they're also really good at coming up with all sorts of stories, interpretations, and judgments, often based on past experiences or biases.
So, when we hear "don't believe everything you think," it's more of a reminder to take a step back and observe our thoughts without automatically accepting them as absolute truth.
AWARENESS IS KEY
āNot believing everything you think,ā is about recognizing that thoughts are just mental events, not necessarily reflections of reality.
We can choose to question our thoughts, challenge our thoughts, or simply let the thoughts pass by like clouds in the sky.
By shining some awareness onto our thoughts in this way, without getting ācaughtā up in them, we can create some distance and perspective.
And in doing thisāwe gift ourselves an opportunity to see whatās underneath the thoughts that weāre havingā to uncover the hidden truth.
It's like being the OBSERVER of your thoughts rather than being consumed by them.
Itās important to also note that choosing not to believe your thoughts, is NOT about denying or suppressing these thoughts, but rather its about developing a more flexible and discerning relationship with them.
Get curious
And so the next time a thought pops into your head, get curious & try asking yourself these two āsimpleā questions with the utmost honesty & compassion for yourself without judging yourself in the process ā
Is this thought helpful or true?
Does it align with my values and goals?
This practice is just one of many that can help us navigate our inner āmentalā world with greater clarity and wisdom. It detaches us from believing in the thoughts and allows us to become more curious instead.
Thoughts are like clouds in the skyā¦.huh?
Think of thoughts like passing clouds in the sky.
Why?
Because like clouds, thoughts come and thoughts go, sometimes quickly, sometimes lingering a bit longer, but they're not permanent fixtures.
This is helpful because it aligns us with truthā thoughts are merely mental events that arise in our mindsāthey're not something we can touch or hold onto like physical objects.
And just as clouds in the sky don't define the sky itself, our thoughts don't define who we are.
Thoughts are products of our minds, influenced by our experiences, emotions, and surroundings.
ā¦And just like clouds, thoughts can be influenced by a bunch of different factors and they can change over time.
Understanding thoughts as mental events, or as passing clouds in the sky, helps us see them in a different lightānot as absolute truths or reflections of our identity, but as passing phenomena that we can observe and interact with.
This perspective gives us the freedom to choose how we respond to our thoughts, rather than believing in them or being controlled by them.
How do you observe thoughts, anyway?
Observing your thoughts is a fundamental aspect of what mindfulness practice is all about.
Here's a āsimpleā way to do it:
š¤« Find a Quiet Space: Start by finding a quiet and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed for a few
minutes.
š Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down in a relaxed position. Close your eyes if it helps you focus, but it's not necessary.
š®āšØ Focus on Your Breath: Begin by bringing your attention to your breath. Notice the sensation of the air entering and leaving your body.
š Notice Your Thoughts: As you focus on your breath, thoughts will inevitably arise in your mind. When you become aware of a thought, simply acknowledge it without judgment. You can say to yourself, "There's a thought."
š Return to Your Breath: After acknowledging the thought, gently bring your focus back to your breath. Notice the rise and fall of your chest or the sensation of air passing in & out through your nostrils.
š Repeat: Thoughts are like clouds. They will continue to come and go. Each time you notice a thought, acknowledge it and then return your attention back to your breath. Continue this process until you feel ready to conclude the practice.
ā¼ļøPractice Regularly: Like any skill, observing your thoughts takes practice. Aim to incorporate this mindfulness exercise into your daily routine, even if it's just for a few minutes at a time.
By observing your thoughts in this way, you develop greater awareness of your mental processes and develop the ability to respond to them with greater clarity and ease.
Doing this continuously, day in and day out, over time, you may begin to notice a greater sense of peace and calm permeate into your daily lifeā a shift ā from being one who is controlled to being the one who is in control.
Lets meditate
Like Clouds in the SkyāGuided Meditation for Mental Freedom (Reclaim Control):