We Aren’t Our Thoughts

“The mind is its own place — It can make Hell of Heaven or Heaven of Hell.” John Milton in “Paradise Lost”

At some point we have to decide who we are and who we aren’t. The jury is still out on the human mind and its machinations. After all, the body has existed as an entity of wisdom for far longer than the mind. Evolution is unforgiving of those who don’t adapt and the greater the power for good, the greater the potential for destruction.

Given the potential for mischief by the human mind, we would do well to discipline ourselves by being aware of negative thoughts that rain down upon our poor bodies. Internal commentary and self-criticism, as well as the overflow of self-loathing silently projected onto others, make for a toxic marinade. No wonder we feel sour and life gets to be a burden for many of us (much to the joy and profit of the pharmaceutical industry).

Here is the basic error… We identify with our thinking and mistake our true identity with the random thoughts that waft through consciousness. We aren’t our thoughts. The Eastern saying, “The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master,” is oh-so-true. Thoughts are just blips on the screen of this moment. So are emotions. If thoughts and emotions aren’t reined in, the suffering can be monumental.