am I paranoid for thinking this?

[lightthecandle]

why can't I control my thoughts?

[Ak47]

LOL wow. That's a first.

What do you mean you can't control your thoughts? As in, turn them off? ..or just thinking in general?

Well the generally consensus is that memory works through the, sometimes not obvious, relationships between thoughts. If A is connected to B in your head, even if you don't realize it... it's very well possible that thinking about A will cause you to think of B.

Also, bipolar disorder might be what you're talking about. People who have bipolar disorder often report "uncontrollable racing thoughts."

If you really feel you can't control what you're thinking though, maybe you should talk to someone.

[Ak47]

Also if you have wild, indescribable thoughts... i would say that is just the result of the limits that language places upon our ability to think. In theory, you can think of anything, but if you can't compile it into language (there is a lot you cannot)... we tend to throw it out because it isn't 'logical.'

[z1freeride]

Yes. Check for implants.

Do you nosebleed often?

[DayInTheLife]

You can't control your thoughts.

You can, though, reduce or eliminate emotional reactions to your thoughts.

It is possible to learn to take your thoughts less seriously. Thoughts are just impulsive, unsolicited opinions your mind spits out constantly. No single thought should be trusted without question. I picture my mind as a hyperactive but ultimately harmless little child, habitually whining and reacting and judging. I dismiss most thoughts as useless distractions.

The mind is a powerful servant, but we commonly let it give us orders. It has a tendency to always find some issue to analyze, some judgment to make, some mental opinion to defend. Your default state of mind must be attention to the moment, otherwise the mind takes over your experience in life, and you are a slave to its fickle impulses.

You can learn to cultivate the space between thoughts, which will result in both thinking less and being less affected emotionally by your thoughts. This is why people meditate. Once you learn to observe your thoughts, good or bad, you will understand how fleeting and insubstantial they really are, and they will cease to run your life.

[wolfgang]

maybe trying to control your thoughts is what makes it seem like you can't control them.

[Dannyboy1]

I've recently realized you need to observe your thoughts without emotion or judgement, then, if they're anti productive...? Well, what I do is, I'll think something like, "That jerk should...." I've trained myself to stop right there and say to myself, "I'm not that guy. Period." In other words, I'm not that guy who yells at someone on the train, even if I'm right. Or, I'm not that guy that wastes his energy getting upset about someone I don't even know... The more you do it, the more power you feel you have. It's like you're cutting the bad thoughts off at the knees or stopping the monster before it grows...

[The Cloud]

Because you are your thoughts. You can't control them because then you would be controlling yourself controlling yourself controlling yourself unto infinity. You may as well be trying to lift yourself into the air by the scruff of your own neck. It just can't be done.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

Because you are your thoughts. You can't control them because then you would be controlling yourself controlling yourself controlling yourself unto infinity. You may as well be trying to lift yourself into the air by the scruff of your own neck. It just can't be done.

You are not your thoughts because you can observe them. You are the presence beyond the mind. Ever read the Power of Now? Great book. I believe that's how people trap themselves, by believing they're their thoughts. Everyone has evil thoughts, but they don't act on them. At least most people. This shows you can have thoughts, observe them and decide what to do with them. The problem is, people try and control them instead of just realizing them for what they are and just observe them. You are the soul behind it all. You can get caught up in your thoughts, or emotions, or habits, but you are not ultimately those things. You are the observer. The reason you get caught up is you don't realize you are.

[DayInTheLife]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

You are not your thoughts because you can observe them. You are the presence beyond the mind. Ever read the Power of Now? Great book. I believe that's how people trap themselves, by believing they're their thoughts. Everyone has evil thoughts, but they don't act on them. At least most people. This shows you can have thoughts, observe them and decide what to do with them.

Yes. We are not our thoughts or our minds. We can't be our thoughts because we are not always thinking, yet we are always existing. Thoughts are just mind activity. We can be aware of them just like we can be aware of sounds, images, tactile sensations etc.

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

You are not your thoughts because you can observe them.

I meant "you" in the egoic sense, which is the sense that she is speaking from and the only sense she understands. Of course you are correct, but telling her that is just going to make her do the only thing she knows how to do, which is to create another ego from which she will try to watch her ego. I thought that she would be better served if I didn't push an enlightenment agenda on her and let her figure that out on her own.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

I meant "you" in the egoic sense, which is the sense that she is speaking from and the only sense she understands. Of course you are correct, but telling her that is just going to make her do the only thing she knows how to do, which is to create another ego from which she will try to watch her ego. I thought that she would be better served if I didn't push an enlightenment agenda on her and let her figure that out on her own.

I'm not sure she would create another ego. I don't know her well enough. She may or may not be ready to understand the information, but I thought I would throw it out there. Not to push, but to give food for thought.

This is for her - It's true that there's the danger of creating an ego to watch the ego, but if you just watch and don't judge the voices, what happens is you shed light on it and seperate yourself from any emotion about it and become more of a logical observer. Don't buy into anything. Just watch. The detrimental thoughts, you can then just let go for the good of yourself and everyone involved.

[Angela]

Think about what you had for breakfast. What did it look like? What did it taste like? How did it make you feel?

Think about a zebra wearing sunglasses, performing a comedy routine in front of a roomful of hyenas.


There. You just controlled your thoughts! You deliberately thought thoughts. You can deliberately think thoughts of any kind, any time you want to.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Angela

Think about what you had for breakfast. What did it look like? What did it taste like? How did it make you feel?

Think about a zebra wearing sunglasses, performing a comedy routine in front of a roomful of hyenas.


There. You just controlled your thoughts! You deliberately thought thoughts. You can deliberately think thoughts of any kind, any time you want to.

I don't think she meant he couldn't think thoughts. I think he meant she can't stop them or slow them down or she can't always control whether they're positive or negative. I have a similar problem as I think most people do, which is why I suggested to try and step back and just observe them instead of fighting them and realize them for what they are.

[wolfgang]

The OP must be off thinking somewhere because we are the only ones posting here.

[Parthon]

Like everyone has said, it's purely because you aren't your thoughts, in the same way that you aren't your feelings, your memories or your elbow. Your thoughts are just another part of you much like the rest of you, but it's the part that almost everyone thinks of as them because it's so prominient. It's the brain content that fills the gap inside of existing.

Much like your feelings or your unconsious reflexes, your thoughts are not controlled as much as they are observed. You as a being don't think, you observe your mind that thinks. You don't feel, but you observe feelings that arise from the body. If this is the view you work from, you can see that it's not a matter of trying to make yourself do something specific, but a matter of training a part of you to behave differently.

How do you train something? First, awareness. You need to know what it's doing before you can correct it. You need to hear your thoughts and not act on them. Listen to them as a seperate creation apart from you. Then you know what you have to deal with. Second, discipline. If there is an incorrect behaviour, stop the behaviour and reprimand your brain. Don't get angry at yourself, because it's not you that's thinking. And don't get angry at your brain, because it's just a tool. Just a simple message of "don't think that anymore" will suffice. You can also reward it with good messages when it delivers positive thoughts. Thirdly, education. Feed it information that will help it with it's job. Reading or listening to positive material in the style that you wish to follow is one of the best ways. Immerse your brain in the environment you wish to cultivate.

As odd as this whole lot sounds, it works. It also takes time, patience and practice. One cannot master anything overnight, it takes years, and this definately includes mastery of thought. I hope this explains not just why you can't but also how you can.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Parthon

Like everyone has said, it's purely because you aren't your thoughts, in the same way that you aren't your feelings, your memories or your elbow. Your thoughts are just another part of you much like the rest of you, but it's the part that almost everyone thinks of as them because it's so prominient. It's the brain content that fills the gap inside of existing.

Much like your feelings or your unconsious reflexes, your thoughts are not controlled as much as they are observed. You as a being don't think, you observe your mind that thinks. You don't feel, but you observe feelings that arise from the body. If this is the view you work from, you can see that it's not a matter of trying to make yourself do something specific, but a matter of training a part of you to behave differently.

How do you train something? First, awareness. You need to know what it's doing before you can correct it. You need to hear your thoughts and not act on them. Listen to them as a seperate creation apart from you. Then you know what you have to deal with. Second, discipline. If there is an incorrect behaviour, stop the behaviour and reprimand your brain. Don't get angry at yourself, because it's not you that's thinking. And don't get angry at your brain, because it's just a tool. Just a simple message of "don't think that anymore" will suffice. You can also reward it with good messages when it delivers positive thoughts. Thirdly, education. Feed it information that will help it with it's job. Reading or listening to positive material in the style that you wish to follow is one of the best ways. Immerse your brain in the environment you wish to cultivate.

As odd as this whole lot sounds, it works. It also takes time, patience and practice. One cannot master anything overnight, it takes years, and this definately includes mastery of thought. I hope this explains not just why you can't but also how you can.

I've found that saying "Don't think that" has the opposite effect. It's like "don't think of a pink elephant". Suddenly, that's exactly what I'm thinking of. What I've found more useful is to not address or define the thought so much as to just say, "I'm not that person." or "That's not me." Suddenly, the thought disappears without a fight because I'm not judging it, I'm saying I'm not the type of person who gives credit or even attention to those kinds of thoughts. I hope I'm making sense to everyone. Instead of saying "Don't think that." which is like fighting the thought, I say, "I'm not that guy." and the thought dies by itself. I'm sure everyone has different ways to handle it. This seems to be working well for me.

[Angela]

Yeah, my point is that if you can deliberately think thoughts (and you can, of course), then you can deliberately think thoughts that are different from the ones you'd rather not think. As you say, it's hard not to think of a pink elephant, but if you're busy thinking about a zebra comedian, the pink elephant recedes in your mental focus. The more you practice deliberately thinking thoughts that feel good when you think them, the looser your brain's hold on the habitual negative thought patterns.

I like your idea of observing your thoughts, too.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Angela

Yeah, my point is that if you can deliberately think thoughts (and you can, of course), then you can deliberately think thoughts that are different from the ones you'd rather not think. As you say, it's hard not to think of a pink elephant, but if you're busy thinking about a zebra comedian, the pink elephant recedes in your mental focus. The more you practice deliberately thinking thoughts that feel good when you think them, the looser your brain's hold on the habitual negative thought patterns.

I like your idea of observing your thoughts, too.

Zebra comedian lol! I could wear a zebra striped shirt and do jokes about my predators!

[wolfgang]

why did the zebra cross the road?

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

why did the zebra cross the road?

He was avoiding potential muggers?

[wolfgang]

because there was a zebra crossing.

[Angela]

Ha! I'll bet your audience sometimes looks like a crowdful of hyenas.