Informative

Why you are not your thoughts?

Cogito, ergo sum. ‘I think therefore I am is the statement made by Latin philosopher Rene Descartes while tackling the question of existence. But what defines us? Legendary Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud said that we are the result of the thoughts coming out of our subconscious mind.

Experts say that our mind thinks between 60 to 80 thousand thoughts a day. However, if you pay close attention, you will find that most of them are useless and pass through our minds with incredible speed.

Passing uncontrolled thoughts is one of the most common problems during meditation. Not just during meditation, but this continuous flow distracts us when we wake up, take a shower, drive, work, and even try to sleep, especially when we are worried or anxious.

We often do the same things without giving much thought to them while thinking about something else. This autopilot mode is beneficial only when we are gaining something from it. For the rest of the time, being in the moment, being in the present, makes a huge difference. So, the question must be asked about the importance of all these thoughts that come and go in our minds.  

How are you not your thoughts?

For this, firstly, we must discuss what thoughts are. Our brain is in a continuous process of perceiving. Our sensory organs continuously feel something. Our thoughts are a mere representation of our sensory stimulus and perception of our brain. In this age of information technology, our thoughts are overinfluenced by the information our brain receives.

Even though emerging internally, thoughts are closely linked with the outer environment. Our deep memories, traumas, deepest desires produce conscious thoughts as per the external stimuli. In a nutshell, you can say the thoughts are like ripples on a calm lake, where you can’t see your perfection on it because it is disturbed.

Actions: This is one of the most fundamental factors that determine why we are not our thoughts. There are thousands of thoughts that pass by us every day. We do not take action on every emerging thought in our minds. They are just a few clouds passing by, which do not ask for our attention.

Mental or physical trauma, anxiety, depression, phobias, or chronic illnesses cause these unusual thoughts. There is deep-rooted psychological reasoning behind every unique thought that comes into your mind. Spirituality even states the presence of Karma from past life might be responsible for the thoughts we encounter.

Change: As we grow up, we can observe a drastic change in our thoughts and responses. A Ten-year-old you will have a different reaction than the 35 years old you now. This indicates that our thoughts are constantly changing. Even though memories influence your thoughts, they denote that you are evolving.

What is the significance of comprehending this?

The knowledge of you are not your thoughts opens the door to a judgemental, stress-free life. It helps to create a witnessing attitude in an individual. Registering the unnecessary thoughts leads to overthinking. Overthinking ends up worsening whatever situation you are stuck in. 

When you stop taking your thoughts seriously, it helps you move on and spend your remaining day, week, year, or rest of your life with comfort, peace, and happiness. This realization creates a barrier between you and your thoughts, which filters the critical, honest, and valuable thoughts by letting go of the useless ones.

This realization will not necessarily stop the negative, dark or inappropriate thoughts. Likewise,this barrier will not prevent flashbacks of your past, but it will help you manage them more effectively by letting them go without judgment.

Comprehension of ‘you are not your thoughts’ teaches you how to deal with your ideas. Of course, it will come with practicing, and everyone will have their version of this process. But, it definitely will teach you how to calm your mind. It will improve your thought process and perception of the incidences happening around you and help you to look at the world in a realistic spin.

If you are not your thoughts, then who are you?

Through the practice of meditation and mindfulness, you realize that happy thoughts come and go, and sad thoughts come and go, but the awakened awareness doesn’t change itself according to the thoughts. You have no control over what your next thought will be. You do not have any role behind its arrival and departure. As you practice meditation, you realize the mind has its mind.

As time passes, our reaction to external stimuli also changes accordingly. For example, by seeing a red balloon, the two-year-old, you will have a different response than the fifty-year-old you. So, emotions, perceptions, and experiences do not make you- you.

Ancient sages describe this phenomenon  of ‘who am i?’ as a witnessing attitude. Witnessing attitude or a Sakshi Bhav could be the first step towards enlightenment. It means you are merely just a spectator. You are the one who listens to your thoughts, and you are the one who observes your emotions and takes action on external incidents.

If one doesn’t notice their thoughts, by mixing their emotions and behavioral response, when they blindly react to those stimuli, they lose the choice of how to respond to life.  If one practices mindful meditation, they can be a better observer, creating appropriate responses and making better decisions in life.

We hope this blog helped you understand why and how our thoughts do not define us. In case of any queries, please write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com.