How Thoughts Determine Our Outcomes

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it’s all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

– Marcus Aurelius

I picked up a book recently that I would like to share a few things from the book with you. It is titled Declutter Your Mind: How To Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety and Eliminate Negative Thinking.

We cannot deny the fact that our thoughts determine a lot of outcomes that we get in life; from school to attend to career to many other things. It is therefore imperative that we pay attention to your thoughts if you desire a positive or negative outcome.

Ever feel overwhelmed by your thoughts? Do you struggle with stress or anxiety about the tasks you need to complete on a weekly basis? Do you want to simply stop worrying about life in general?

We all experience negative thinking from time to time. But if you often feel overwhelmed by these thoughts, then you should closely examine what you’re thinking and how your thoughts impact your mental well-being.

There is always an inner monologue which is natural part of your mental landscape. It’s there all the time, night and day, reminding you about the groceries you need to pick up, shaming you about missing your loved ones birthday, or making you feel anxious about current headlines (like politics, the environment, or the current state of the economy).

Some of your thoughts are random and useless. “My arm itches.” “It looks like it’s gonna rain.” “Where did I put my keys?”

On the other hand, many of our thoughts are intrusive and negative. “That guy is a jerk.” “I really screwed up that project.” “I feel so guilty about what I said to Mom.”

Whether they are positive or negative, these thoughts clutter your mind without your permission.

You may be wondering "why do I think negative thoughts"

Unfortunately, clearing your mental clutter isn’t as simple as eliminating a possession. Consider for a moment your mind as a peaceful cloudless sky, and you have the power to choose what floats across. If that cloudless mental sky is so desirable, then why do we think so much, with so few filters to sort the positive and necessary thoughts from the random and unnecessary?

We can control and direct our thoughts, but it often feels like our thoughts have minds of their own, controlling us and how we feel. Thinking is necessary for solving problems, analyzing, making decisions, and planning, but in between the times of proactive mental endeavors, the mind roams like a wild monkey, dragging you through the brambles of rumination and negativity.

Weirdly, we assume we need to think more or harder in order to “figure out” why we aren’t as happy or fulfilled as we wish we could be. We try to pinpoint the possessions, people, and experiences that might quench our longings and ease our unhappiness. The more we ponder our despair, the more despondent we become. Our thoughts make us restless, empty, and agitated as we project into the future or look to the past for answers.

Not only do you struggle with your thoughts, but you also struggle with your inability to be free of them. The longer the negative thoughts continue to loop, the worse you feel. It’s almost as if there were two of you—the thinker and the judge, the person thinking the thoughts and the person aware that you are thinking them and judging how bad they are.

Occasionally, we have unexpected moments of mental peace and quiet.

More often, however, we try to quell the mental chatter by self-medicating with too much food, alcohol, drugs, work, sex, or exercise. But these are temporary solutions to muffle the noise and ease the pain.

Soon enough, our thoughts are back at it again, and the cycle continues.

Are we destined to be victims of our “monkey minds” at all times? Must we constantly battle our thoughts and allow them to drag us down with worry, regret, and anxiety? Is there a way to have a clear mind, free of negativity and pain?

You may not be able to keep your mental house free from clutter all the time, but you can impact your thoughts enough to improve your quality of life and overall happiness in a profound way. Thinking may seem automatic and uncontrollable, but many of our thought patterns are habitual and, well, thoughtless.

Although it appears you and your thoughts are inseparable, you do possess a “conscious self” that can step in with intention and manage your thoughts. You have far more control of your thoughts than you think.

When you learn how to control your mind, you open a door to the vastness of creativity, inspiration, and brilliance that is just behind the clutter of those untamed thoughts.

How then can you control your thoughts?

Through various mindfulness practices and practical habits, you can disempower your thoughts and have more “space” in your mind to enjoy inner peace and happiness. You’ll have the clarity to prioritize what’s most important in your life, what no longer serves your goals, and how you want to live on a daily basis.

Please share with me your thoughts or position.

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