What Are Our Thoughts Trying To Tell Us?

“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~Carl Jung

We are conditioned to believe that every thought we have, is important and is trying to tell us something about who we are and what we should do. The constant chatter of thought, can lead to significant suffering, if we believe every thought we have.??

How do we turn off our thinking??

There are innumerable books and videos on how to quiet the mind, turn off our thinking, and even more detailed techniques on how to reach an enlightened state, leading to an empty mind.?While these may bring a brief moment of peace for a select few, the human mind is not designed to be turned off.?

We are certainly biologically complex.?The human brain collects data and stores it for later recall. It creates associations of that data that can be triggered by sights, sounds, smells, and touch.?That is why hearing a song from our youth, can bring us to tears for no apparent reason. We remember the exact feelings we had when that song had meaning for us. ?

While this capability of the human mind to recall memories associated with triggers is helpful in many situations (like knowing not to put your hand on the stove or you will be burned), the triggering of many memories, is not so helpful. For those who have a trauma background, memory recall of those events, can be horrifying and relived over and over.?

We are biologically designed to react physically, to our thoughts.?

The design is no doubt a survival skill. See the saber tooth tiger, run for your life!? The problem is, the automatic physical response to thought, is not always accurate. The body’s response to thought, is not designed to take into account, that fearful FUTURE or painful PAST thoughts are not actually placing us in an imminent state of harm or are currently “real”.?When we think fearful thoughts, the body automatically triggers a fight or flight response (heart racing, palms sweaty, a sense of panic, hormonal release of epinephrine and cortisol among others).?

On the other hand, when we will think sad thoughts about the past and experience painful memories, our body responds with sadness, that can lead to depression, if the thoughts persist. If we think about happy times we have had in our lives, the body responds with a calm feeling of well being. What we think, we feel.?

So, how do we control what we think?

The short answer is: we cannot control the millions of thoughts that our brain generates.?The computer-like brain that directs the body, is always on, even when we sleep.?Each day we live, information is added and associations made to be recalled when triggered by our surroundings.

We are constantly straddling the bridge between our spiritual self, that which animates our human form, and our human mind.?Our spiritual self is like the wizard behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, attempting to make sense of what is going on.?Sometimes the Wizard is in control and sometimes not. That is the human condition.?

However, we CAN do a couple of things.?

We can surround ourselves with positive experiences and information when we have a choice.?Much of the time, we do have a choice of what to watch on our electronic devices, what to listen to while we are driving, what to read in our spare time, what to subject ourselves to when we are enjoying entertainment. The brain is capturing EVERYTHING and I mean everything. If you input positive material, more positive material will be available.?

The other very important thing we can do is to realize that thoughts are just thoughts. They do not have any special meaning in and of themselves, even though they may elicit strong feelings. ?

When you are feeling unsettled and icky, know that it is a direct result of your current thoughts. What you can do when that happens is to first, recognize that you are feeling unsettled.?

Look around you. Assess your current situation.?

Are you safe? Is there eminent danger? Is the threat real at this moment?

If the answer is NO, acknowledge that. If you are safe in that moment, have shelter, have food, and are not facing a significant threat in that moment, acknowledge that too. ?

By doing this, you will notice that another, completely random, unrelated thought will likely pop up, like “what do I need at the grocery store?”, for example.?If you do not dwell on any particular thought about past or possible future scenarios, the current thought passes. ?

With practice, you can more easily find relief from repetitive thoughts and the destructive physical feelings that accompany them.?

When you are happy - acknowledge the feeling.?

When you are sad - acknowledge the feeling.?

When you are angry - acknowledge the feeling.?

As you accept what already IS, without fighting it, the feelings pass more quickly, until the next thought pops up.?

We cannot escape the fact that we have a human brain that is ON?24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ?

We CAN train ourselves to pause, assess our current situation right now, and listen for the Wizard behind the curtain, our Universal Spirit, seeking to gain our attention to direct our actions from the inside out, that is behind human thought.

You can either live in an erratic, unhappy dream by constantly looking outside of yourself for comfort and happiness (which will not be found externally), or you can look within and awaken to your world within, where you have all that you need to guide you.?The inner world can help you to maneuver the outer world; from the inside out. It is always “ON” too, underneath your thoughts.

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Who you are BEING determines?everything?about what you are DOING.

Here is how I can support who you are BEING…

• Subscribe to digital magazine:?Magnificent Metamorphosis Magazine?contains quarterly inspiration to support your transformation, available on your phone, tablet, or desktop browser. Each issue contains insights and impactful mindfulness-based information by a variety of global thought leaders and topics. ?https://www.magsfast.com/Magazines/Magnificent-Metamorphosis-Magazine/Latest?
• Get Chapter One of My Book: To learn more about discovering answers from within, get Chapter One of my mindfulness-based book of meditations,?Reflections on Transcendence - Everything You Have Been Searching For Is Already Inside of You.? (Available on Amazon and other online retailers globally).?https://www.amagnificentmetamorphosis.com/sign-up.html?
• Transformational Coaching/Mentoring?: If you are ready to become who you need to BE, to create the life you really want, we need to speak.?Message me on LinkedIn or on my website to schedule a call:???www.amagnificentmetamorphosis.com/mentoring/index.html?