“What a liberation to realize the voice in my head is not who I am. Who am I then? The one who sees that.” – Eckhart Tolle
Descartes got it dead wrong when he said, ‘I think therefore I am.’
I am because I am.
You is because you is lady! 🙂
As we continue with the concept of Everyday Mindfulness, one of the most liberating skills to develop is a witness consciousness.
Witness consciousness is the practice of being a neutral and compassionate observer of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations.
Your thoughts are never a problem.
It is the meaning you place on your thoughts that gets you into trouble.
How often do you get upset by what you are thinking?
How often do you should on yourself with what you should or should not be thinking about that person, this situation, or what is supposed to happen?
How often do you try to unsuccessfully think positive because it may make you a ‘better’ person or help the situation improve? (seriously – forcing positive thoughts is a joke…does this ever work? no, it creates more madness.)
How much energy do you waste negotiating with your mind?
Madness.
Your mind is made to think. It’s going to be cray cray. It’s going to be calm. It’s going to be confused. It’s going to judge. It’s going to be clear. It’s going to beat you up. It’s going to race, and it’s going to be still. It’s all these things.
Your liberation does not come from forcing the mind to be quiet, but from loosening the grip of your story line.
“Just as the dog loves to chew bones, the human mind loves its problems.” – Eckhart Tolle
Identifying with your thoughts means you place meaning on your thoughts…you think if the thoughts are there, you must respond to them. They must have something important to say. It must be true or need to be dealt with. Hilarious!
Yes, sometimes your thinking mind supports your altruistic function, but too often it supports your insanity.
You are not your thoughts.
You are the one who observes your thoughts.
Once you learn to observe your thoughts with neutrality instead of identify with your thoughts, you’re closer to freedom because you finally have access to choice.
When you operate as if you are your thoughts – or think your thoughts need to be fixed – you have no access to choice. Therefore, the cycles of impatience, discontent, and frustration continue.
Stop assigning meaning where meaning does not belong.
You don’t do this by telling yourself to stop or by thinking about it.
You develop your mindful observation skills through practice, being gentle with yourself, and accepting that most of what you think is NO BIG DEAL.
Strong Women Stand Still,
Angela
