Too much thinking about mindset

[quiethumir]

Ok this has been a pattern in my life for a long time, but almost all the time I'm thinking about if I'm thinking the best thoughts, if I have the best mindset that I can have. Am I judging myself?

I don't beat myself up, but I've been thinking too much, even though they're not really negative thoughts. I'm optimistic, I feel great about my future, but I'm concerned about the thoughts inside my head, if they're good thoughts or bad thoughts. If they're empowering or disempowering.

I'm always evaluating my thoughts if they are thoughts that want approval from others, if I'm not caring or if I'm caring about what other people think. If this is the right thing or wrong thing to do, etc. I'm always trying to get down to the root of my thoughts.

If someone can give me some perspective or advice on this issue, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks

[Angela]

I think you're delightful. That's all the input I have right now, sorry - so tired!

[quiethumir]

Thanks Angela. I'll be waiting for your next input

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by quiethumir

I'm always evaluating my thoughts if they are thoughts that want approval from others, if I'm not caring or if I'm caring about what other people think. If this is the right thing or wrong thing to do, etc. I'm always trying to get down to the root of my thoughts.

Thinking about/evaluating a thought does not increase your awareness of it. As soon as you start evaluating a thought, the original thought stops being thunk, and all you're left with is a thought about the original thought. That means you can no longer be aware of the original thought, because you've stopped thinking it. No matter how many times you do this, you will never increase your awareness of your thoughts, because awareness can only occur in the present. You can't be aware of a thought you've stopped having.

[quiethumir]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

Thinking about/evaluating a thought does not increase your awareness of it. As soon as you start evaluating a thought, the original thought stops being thunk, and all you're left with is a thought about the original thought. That means you can no longer be aware of the original thought, because you've stopped thinking it. No matter how many times you do this, you will never increase your awareness of your thoughts, because awareness can only occur in the present. You can't be aware of a thought you've stopped having.

So would you suggest to stop evaluating thoughts, and accept all thoughts, and not try to figure it out?

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by quiethumir

So would you suggest to stop evaluating thoughts, and accept all thoughts, and not try to figure it out?

It's not so much that you should do anything. You don't have to stop evaluating your thoughts, just recognize that your awareness is not increasing because of it. If you're doing something that doesn't work, you start by becoming aware that it doesn't work.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by quiethumir

Ok this has been a pattern in my life for a long time, but almost all the time I'm thinking about if I'm thinking the best thoughts, if I have the best mindset that I can have. Am I judging myself?

I don't beat myself up, but I've been thinking too much, even though they're not really negative thoughts. I'm optimistic, I feel great about my future, but I'm concerned about the thoughts inside my head, if they're good thoughts or bad thoughts. If they're empowering or disempowering.

I'm always evaluating my thoughts if they are thoughts that want approval from others, if I'm not caring or if I'm caring about what other people think. If this is the right thing or wrong thing to do, etc. I'm always trying to get down to the root of my thoughts.

If someone can give me some perspective or advice on this issue, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks

I think you do two things....you state it yourself...one is helpful, the other is not...

Search for the root...good! Your curiousity is delightful!

But putting a value on a thought is not so good. Thoughts are "objects". They come and go and can be acquired from someone else or given to someone else. They aren't good or bad. They come and go.

If you get attached to thoughts, then you're in trouble. Maybe your thought is that a girl really likes you so you carry on like she does. The truth may be that she doesn't but if you're attached to the thought and not a witness to the truth (lets say she never calls or texts, doesn't seem to notice you in a room, etc...) then you will end up stalking her, trying to find a way to make your thought "true". This is actually at the heart of sexual harrasment. The guy is so mentally convinced that she wants him, yet her actions and words keep rejecting him.

So don't worry about thoughts. Just don't let them control you, whether the thought is good or bad. Recognize that the mind's job is to offer ideas and thoughts are merely ideas. Use the tool of the mind but don't be used by it. The mind's ideas are not truths, so be careful whether the thought is awful jealousy or incredible infatuation.

[quiethumir]

Thanks Cloud and Ron for your input. I guess I'm just gonna watch my thoughts without judging them.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by quiethumir

Thanks Cloud and Ron for your input. I guess I'm just gonna watch my thoughts without judging them.

You got it buddy!

We think because we don't know. No one knows it all so how can we judge anyone, including ourselves, negatively about not knowing something?

Our education system grades our level of knowledge and I think conditions us to feel badly about self when we don't feel smart and vice versa. So here you are thinking a lot about something that you don't know, then feeling bad about yourself for not coming up with something true.

No, don't judge thoughts. Use them as guesses about what is true. Then go out and test your thoughts. In a way, you do that admirably on this message board, but the real test is to live your ideas and see where they come up short. The assess what happened, and with that new experience, guess and test again! That's the true learning process in life.