Stepping Outside your Thinking

Posted on November 10, 2007
Filed Under Awareness |

It’s all too easy to get caught up in our own thinking, I do it all the time. When we are caught up in our own thinking we view the world in a reactionary manner we see things according to how our thinking is perceiving them. For example many people don’t like the winter or fall as the weather (especially here in the UK) is often dank and damp. People call it ‘miserable’, because that’s how it makes them feel - it’s the thought they associate with that type of weather. Me personally, I love this time of year - I find the early dark nights ‘cozy’, and the autumn leaves are pure beauty. Those are the thoughts I associate with this time of year.

When we don’t think consciously, we find ourselves on autopilot - and that means these reactionary feelings color our perception of the world. We judge things without really thinking about them, based upon our previous assertions, feelings and experiences. It’s very easy to see this in other people, in fact if you are feeling particularly devilish it’s possible to play games with people and ‘press their buttons’. In many cases people will react in exactly the same manner every time you say a certain phrase. It can be fun for a while, but it can aggrandize your own ego if your not careful.

Whilst it is all to easy to see unconscious thinking in others, it’s not so easy to see it in ourselves. Other people see it in us, and sometimes they call us out for being pig-headed, lame, self-depreciating or whatever. And when we react to those claims defensively or with hostility we are again thinking unconsciously.

All we need to do to get around this is step outside of our thinking - and simply watch our thoughts. That’s probably easier said than done - but you can certainly do it for short periods if not all day long. You don’t need to go and be all robotic or aloof about it, simply step away from attaching yourself to your thoughts. Think something and if you want react to it - but be aware that of what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Before very long you will see yourself in a very different light, because it is surprising how much of what we do is reactionary rather than considered. This is how our ego ends up controlling our life, by letting our mind work on autopilot we hand the reigns over to our ego - which has plenty of it’s own problems and is always seeking to set itself up for attention or power.

The strange thing about practicing this form of awareness, is that inside your mind you begin to see your thoughts as being separate from you. It’s like you are standing to the side of your thoughts rather than in the center of them, you create a space between your awareness and your unconscious thought. It is the distinction between the thinker and the observer.

Comments

2 Responses to “Stepping Outside your Thinking”

tracy Ho on December 16th, 2007 10:56 am

great post, my thought & perception change after reading your articles,

Thanks a lot

Tracy ho
wisdomgettingloaded
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Marcus on December 16th, 2007 9:42 pm

Thanks for the comments!
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