You Are Not Your Thoughts!

Not all thoughts are true or helpful. Thoughts are randomly generated by your mind and are simply an idea, opinion or possible solution to a problem. Thoughts are not real; they are just an idea your mind presented to you.

However, our thoughts can become as real as we make them. The more attention given to a thought the bigger and more elaborate it becomes and the more impact it has on you. Our mind is constantly producing thoughts, images, judgements, predictions and stories. The more attention we give to certain thoughts the more the mind will produce those thoughts and focus on that particular story. The more fearful the thought or the more we are horrified by it the more our brain will produce those thoughts.

We are biologically designed to look for danger and also be part of a social network, we are afraid of rejection and not being safe and this therefore drives most of our thoughts. Our own thoughts actually are our greatest fears and the more attention we give these thoughts the more we get hooked into their story. The key to unhooking from these thoughts is to be an observer of these thoughts rather than being these thoughts. It is important to consider; Is this a true or helpful thought? Is it worthy of my attention? How will I feel if I hook into this thought?

Not all thoughts are true or helpful, our mind is a random thought generator and many of the thoughts we have are not worthy of our attention. Our thoughts are not commands either. We can have a thought and still do something else. Try thinking to yourself “I cannot lift my right arm, and while you continue thinking about this, notice you actually can lift your arm. Notice we can think about one thing and do another.

What can I do Instead of getting hooked with all my thoughts?

Be an observer of your thoughts, not be your thoughts.

Notice that there is a difference between your thoughts and you. You are the one watching your thoughts. There is you, and then there is the you watching what you do and what you are thinking. They are two different things. You can have a thought and realise that you don’t have to listen to it, it is not a command and that it may not be a true or helpful thought worthy of your attention.

Letting go of our Thoughts

Letting go of our thoughts rather than trying to get rid of them or get pushed around by them. Try acknowledging the thought and then watching it float away on bubbles or clouds or float down the stream on leaves. Whatever helps you imagine the thought is passing by, rather than sticking as a true fact or reacting emotionally to the thoughts.

Writing our thoughts down

Journal the thoughts and let them flow onto paper. Notice they are just words and try writing them in different fonts or styles.

Breathwork

Deep breathing can send safety signals to how body. Try box breathing or 4-7-8 breathing.

Tuning into our Senses

Use your senses to pull you back into the present moment rather than being off in your thoughts. Use as many of your senses as you can by looking for interesting things you can see, listen for sounds how many different sounds you can hear, touch interesting tactile objects or smell or taste things that capture your attention.

Move your body

Go for a walk, stretch, yoga, shake your body and notice how movement shifts the minds focus.

Being able to unhook from your thoughts takes practice but there are many skills that will help you move forward to a meaningful life rather than a life of avoidance or getting pushed around by your fears. A psychologist can help you learn what works best for you and provide further assistance.