Reflections from my commonplace book.
Meditation isn’t just about clearing the mind, sitting still, or trying to rid yourself of your problems. It’s also an opportunity to become the observer of your thoughts.
“Be present as the observer of your mind.” — Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now
Observe your thoughts without immediately associating with them or making them part of your identity. Detach from the idea that you are your thoughts.
Sometimes, we can get caught in a loop of negative thinking. Our minds spiral, taking one thought and running with the worst possible outcome.
I can be very good at listening to those thoughts.
Something as simple as saying, “I am not good at ___,” can begin to feel like a reality. But when we become the observer, we create space between ourselves and the thought. We can remind ourselves that a thought is not a fact, and it does not define who we are.
Maybe you aren’t good at something right now. That doesn’t mean you won’t become better with practice, repetition, and time.
When you begin to observe your thoughts, you start to disconnect from the idea that every thought your mind produces is the truth.
YOU CAN CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO.
You can become a better version of yourself.
Allow your thoughts to flow. It can be difficult to clear your mind, and that’s why I always begin my meditations by observing what comes through.
I don’t ignore my thoughts.
I don’t push them away.
I simply allow them to flow in and out.
Eventually, my crowded mind, filled with endless thoughts, begins to become quiet.
Once I’ve allowed myself to acknowledge the thoughts that wanted to come through, I can begin to release and clear the thoughts, emotions, and energy that I no longer want to carry.
I understand that it can be difficult to sit still for more than five minutes at a time. But I believe those first 5–7 minutes of meditation can be incredibly valuable. They give us an opportunity to notice what is moving through the mind before we try to create stillness.
You don’t have to force your mind to be quiet.
Sometimes, you simply have to sit with it long enough to hear what it has been saying.
And once you can observe your thoughts, you can begin to choose which ones you want to identify with.
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