More thoughts about thoughts

Thoughts constantly fill our heads during our waking hours. They also fill our dreams, even though they are significantly different when we dream, than when we are awake. Yet, many don’t think about them. Worse yet, many believe that they are their thoughts. They may not have spelled it out for themselves, but this is what they unconsciously assume. Even though they cannot find what in their thoughts that they actually are. And even though they can hold many contradictory thoughts from time to time. 

Many also believe that their thoughts are true, without examining the evidence for them.

I’m not saying this from some place of superiority. All of the above was my reality until just a few years ago. And when I’m not present and conscious of what is going on inside of me, I still slip back into this way of relating to my thoughts.

The more I observe what is going on inside my head, the more I’m starting to notice that some thoughts seem “higher” while others seem “lower”. Some thoughts seem to ring more true. They seem more conscious and mature. These thoughts seem to come out when I’m more present and conscious of what I’m thinking, while the thoughts that I let slip by while I’m not really aware of what I’m thinking seem “lower” and more immature. The “higher” thoughts seem more loving, joyful and they seem to want what’s best for everyone, including me. The “lower” thoughts on the other hand, seem to be more focused on instant gratification, sometimes at the expense of others and most certainly at my own expense in the long run. As I’ve matured some with age, I’ve learned to at least not take action on the thoughts that blatantly hurt others. 

I believe that, at least metaphorically, these thoughts are God and the Devil. When it comes to God, I even believe that they come from God in a literal sense, while I only believe that the Devil is a representation of our ego. I believe that depending on which thoughts we choose to nourish, we can create either our personal heaven or hell here on earth.