Do you feel like your mind just won’t quiet down? Like it’s running a non-stop marathon of thoughts, ideas, and worries? Welcome to the club. For the longest time, I thought everyone lived this way – in a perpetual rollercoaster of thoughts and corresponding emotions.
But when I stumbled upon meditation (actually it was yogic breathing and then meditation), it was a game-changer. Suddenly, I realised I wasn’t just “thinking” – I was drowning in a sea of my own thoughts, barely able to keep my head above water.
It’s like being stuck in a mental hamster wheel, unable to escape the incessant chatter inside our heads.
Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction.
Meditation is not about stopping thinking
Here’s the big misconception about meditation: it’s not about shutting off your thoughts like a light switch.
It’s about stepping back and becoming an observer of your own mind. It’s about realising that you are not your stream of consciousness – YOU are the one listening to it.
Of course, many thoughts are useful. But the reality is that a lot of them are just outdated scripts and baggage we’ve picked up along the way. Childhood experiences, social pressures, family conditioning, culture, country… it’s endless.
And if we’re not careful, believing every one of those negative thoughts can steer us down some pretty dark alleys.
Ever met someone so set in their ways that they’re practically stuck in quicksand? That’s what happens when you let your thoughts run the show without self-awareness. But meditation is like a life line in that quicksand – it gives you the space to breathe, to see things from a different perspective.
Meditation can help you hit the pause button on that endless mental chatter.
First we have to understand the need to dis-identify. It’s taking a step back and realising that you’re not just your thoughts – you’re the one watching them. It starts with paying attention to those thoughts in the first place. Once you recognise that you’re knee-deep in them, you’ve already taken the first step towards dialling their power down.
Think of it like switching from autopilot to manual mode. Suddenly, you’re not just cruising through life – you’re actively steering the ship. And that shift from being totally wrapped up in your own thoughts to seeing them for what they are brings true quality into your life.
A simple technique to quiet your mind
Eckhart Tolle has a simple yet effective way to observe your thoughts.
I learnt this technique from Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. It’s simple yet incredibly effective, especially for those of us with minds that never seem to take a break the overthinkers, the analytically minded, the ones who always need to know why
(Tip: see if you have an open mind in Human Design like I do. It explains a lot).
Observe your thoughts
So, next time your brain feels like a circus, remember: You’ve got the power to hit pause, take a breath, and watch the show from the sidelines. You’ll find calm in the chaos – and maybe even discover a few thoughts worth holding onto.
Dive deeper
If you want to understand more about the grip of the ego-mind, reading or listening to Tolle is a must. From academia to contemplating suicide, he’s experienced his ego chatter in full force. His insights into the ego mind are like a roadmap to understanding the affliction of our thoughts.
by Anjla 🏹
