you are not your thoughts
#8 envision excellence
You would’ve seen this idea from Buddhism endlessly repackaged by self-help gurus over time.
It is a simple idea. However, I don’t think I truly understood this until I went through some chaos in my life.
There are rare moments in your life when time dissolves with reality. You are just present.
I can specifically point to some of these moments in my life: racing motorcycles with my eyes only on the racing line. This evening I was on the beach with my mom, just talking with her. A weekend afternoon when I baked a cake for my ex. In these moments I was completely absorbed.
Here’s a simple way you can prove this idea right now.
Breathe deeply. Feel your feet on the floor. If you’re eating, taste the food—the salt, the spice, the heat. Whatever you are doing, fucking get into it.
Now, you are no longer your thoughts. Yes, you are being aware of your thoughts, but you are not your thoughts.
This awareness is a superpower.
It has helped me pause and react properly to conflicts, negotiate calmly in business, or even simply walk away from drama that doesn’t serve me.
Of course, this is not to say that you should not think or envision your future. Or even ignore your problems in your mind.
The idea is not all these problems are real. And most likely these thoughts of yours are being subconsciously influenced by the people around you. So it is not even yours to begin with.
Hope this helps.
Thank you,
Ameen
Feel free to let me know your thoughts. I respond to everyone.