THOUGHTS are really weird. Why don't more people THINK about that?

We have these words and images in our heads. We also have memories of experiences, pieces of music, things we have seen etcetera. Furthermore, we have beliefs and opinions about things. We have beliefs and opinions about anything from friends, pets, tools, to world politics and religion. Most of us unconsciously believe that we are our thoughts. In other words not in the sense that we walk around using the word-machine inside our heads to say: “I am this thought or I am that thought”. But if we look at how we treat this grinding voice that keeps on nagging inside our heads, it’s clear that we do. Why would we otherwise give so much weight to what it has to say about the world and the people and things in it? So much so that many of us are prepared to buy things they cannot afford, end relationships and friendships or beat people up because of what it says. A few even kill people or start wars because of what it says.

If we try to stop thinking, we pretty soon find out that it’s impossible. And yet, many people go through their whole lives without noticing this. We do seem to have some control over our thoughts however. But few people seem to have given much thought (pun intended!) to how this control works. Even though we have our thoughts running non-stop during our waking hours and they definitely affect what we say and how we feel and act, many (probably most of us) don’t think about how this control works or how the thoughts operate in general. Isn’t this weird? We have something that is with us all of the time during our waking hours, that to a large extent runs our lives. We know that we have some control over this something. But many spend no time at all thinking of how this something functions. Many don’t even realize that they can do such a thing.

We know that we can change a stream of thoughts. But we also know that if too strong negative emotions are attached to a stream of thoughts, we tend to return to them as soon as we stop being aware of what we are thinking of.

The question of being aware of our thoughts is an interesting one in itself. Because it’s only when we are totally focused on observing the thought stream that the thoughts go silent. And if we are like most people, we can only maintain this focus for a second or two. Why is that? Why is it so hard to focus on our thoughts? And why do they disappear when we do?

We can also consciously bring out thoughts. But for the most part, if we are honest with ourselves, we just let them happen. But if we think deliberately, we notice that the character of our thoughts changes, even if it’s hard to put one’s finger on how. But they become more clear, more original, less repetitive. We can also hold imaginary conversations in our heads. We can pretend that we are talking to famous or dead people. For example. We can even direct our thoughts towards God. 

When we direct our thoughts towards God, something also seems to shift, even though, at least when I do it in everyday life, this shift seems rather subtle. So far. I haven’t tried it much yet. Maybe this will change over time.