Parking Thoughts Outside The Brain

Scientists conducted an experiment with toddlers where a toy was hidden in a room, and only the toddler knew its location. At that early stage, the toddler assumed that everyone, including a stranger entering the room, would also know where the toy was hidden. However, just six months later, the same toddler developed the understanding that the information was private — something only they knew, and a new person in the room would not be aware of it.

At a relatively early age, we develop the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and knowledge are uniquely ours, confined to our minds. But the truth is, we don’t actually "own" our thoughts or feelings. They arise from and belong to the world around us. When we try to trap them within our minds, we often feel stressed and overwhelmed.

Here’s a thought experiment that can relieve a lot of that tension: Imagine opening the doors of your mind and releasing your thoughts into the world. Almost instantly, you may feel lighter. This is because when we cling to things that don’t truly belong to us, it creates stress. Thoughts and feelings are no exception. They arise and dissolve in the world, not in our minds. By trying to confine them, we give them no space to breathe, which leads to tension in the body.

When we learn to let go, allowing our thoughts and feelings to flow freely in the world, we experience a sense of relaxation and openness. We stop putting ourselves on trial for the "thought crimes" in our heads because, in reality, these thoughts are not ours to begin with. By recognizing this, we can accept all thoughts and feelings without labeling them as good, bad, or ugly.

Meditation is a tool that can help you practice this thought experiment regularly and with ease. Start with just 10 minutes today and experience the shift.

Happy meditating!