Mindfulness: The Journey Within
We each are able to maintain the appearance of being fully present and engaged in whatever we do. At the same time, our thoughts can have us residing in a completely different headspace.
Most of us have mastered the art of presenting a carefully curated version of ourselves, which completely masks the true nature of our thoughts and feelings, making it seem like we live in two completely different worlds.
We do not think thoughts. We obtain them from conditioning and what we consume. Everything creates an impression that shapes our thoughts, from the foods we eat to the company we keep to all that we expose ourselves to. Likewise, its nature and origin can run the gamut, from replaying reels from past experiences that can spark feelings of fear, doubt, and worry to projecting our fears onto the future in anticipation of the absolute worst-case scenario.
“All our thinking results from our conditioning; it comes from our accumulated experiences, memories, fears, hopes. Such a mind is not free.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti
Unlike most annoying distractions that arise at the most inopportune times, one can’t just will them to stop. Inversely, the more you focus on ceasing your thoughts, the more you will rise in response.
The good news is that we are not our thoughts; since we are not, we can objectively observe them as they flow through our awareness. Notably, observing thoughts from an objective perspective without reacting takes some practice. Much like the clouds in the sky, you can develop the habit of watching and accepting them as they pass through your awareness.
In other words, we do not have to give up our power to be at the mercy of our seemingly wayward thoughts. Regardless of the nature or origin, when you allow your thoughts to redirect your attention away from the present moment, you surrender your power.
Much like our nearly obsessive attachment to our smartphones and social media, we each have the power to consciously unsubscribe, unfollow, and disconnect from the thoughts that steal our awareness away from the present moment (aka your intended focus).
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