The Power of Watching Your Thoughts
Have you ever noticed how your mind never stops thinking? What do you think would happen if you just watched it instead of believing everything it says?
Our minds are like a never-ending radio station, constantly broadcasting thoughts, worries, and narratives about our lives. Most of the time, we don’t even question these thoughts—we just accept them as truth. But what if we didn’t? What if, instead of getting caught up in every thought, we simply watched them, like clouds passing in the sky?
The Nature of the Mind
Your mind is a storyteller, but not always a reliable one. It spins stories based on past experiences, fears, and biases. Often, these stories create unnecessary stress and suffering. The good news? You don’t have to buy into everything your mind tells you.
Becoming the Observer
Instead of reacting to every thought, try observing them with curiosity. Imagine your thoughts as cars passing by on the road. You are standing on the sidewalk, watching them come and go, but you don’t have to jump into every car and go along for the ride.
Ask yourself:
Is this thought true, or is it just a habit?
Does believing this thought help me, or does it create stress?
What happens if I just let this thought pass without engaging with it?
You Are Not Your Thoughts—You Are the Watcher
Recognizing that our thoughts are often scarier than reality is difficult, but it’s also freeing. Reality is much kinder than what we make it mean. When you stop identifying with every thought, you create space for peace.
A helpful way to understand this is to imagine your mind as a sky, and your thoughts as clouds. Sometimes, they are light and fluffy; other times, they are dark and stormy. But no matter what, the sky (your awareness) is always there, untouched by the clouds. You are not the clouds; you are the sky.
Another way to grasp this is to think of your thoughts as a movie playing on a screen. Your awareness—the true essence of who you are—is not the movie, but the screen it plays on. The screen is always there, unchanging, no matter what scene is playing.
When you start seeing your thoughts this way, you realize that you are not your thoughts—you are the awareness behind them. This shift can bring an incredible sense of relief and clarity.
Try This:
For one day, set an intention to simply watch your thoughts without reacting. Notice how many of them are repetitive, judgmental, or fear-based. Then, remind yourself that they are just thoughts—not reality.
