Mouse-hunting Your Thoughts
'All healing is awareness: becoming aware of what we were previously aware of, and then we have new choices' (Gilles Marin)
- What is constructive, productive thinking?
- When is thinking useful, and when not?
- How do we know when to 'think'... if we should be thinking?
The more we are in connection with our True Self, the less we will 'think thoughts', unless they are needed, productive and useful.
When we are really connected with our True Self, we will often have no thoughts in our mind - it will be completely peaceful and still, like a calm pond. Obviously, it takes time to reach this 'state of mind' but it is possible, and good to know the ultimate goal.
The more we clear emotional baggage, this will also contribute to a peace-filled mind, because much thinking is an unconscious habitual tactic for unconsciously avoiding feelings. We stay stuck in our head so we don't have to feel what is going on in our body, and emotions are predominantly generated from and located in the torso.
So how can we move towards a clear, calm, thought-free mind?
There are many ways, including engaging in regular meditation, qigong etc, which automatically 'stills' the 'monkey mind' if done properly. Stillness and calm are the automatic 'side-benefits' (side effects) of doing such nervous-system calming practices.
There are also other exercises we can do, for example, becoming more aware of the thoughts going through our mind on a daily basis.
It takes a lot of self-awareness to notice our thoughts - apparently we have around 60,000 - 70,000 thoughts a day!
So here is a mindfulness exercise you can try, to help become more aware of your thoughts.
Watching for Mice
As Eckhardt Tolle says, watching thoughts can be likened to a cat watching a mouse hole, waiting for a mouse to come out.
If a cat knows there is a mouse in the hole, it will sit patiently for hours, and watch, and wait, until that mouse comes out. The mice are your thoughts.
Mice Thoughts.
Imagine you are a cat watching a mouse hole, waiting for the mouse to come out. Watch that mouse hole, just watch it, and wait for the next mouse or mice to appear.
Watch.
When a mouse-thought appears, write it down or record it to a voice recorder.
Do this for a set period of time: 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes... however long you like. You can start small and build up.
Then, take a break, and come back and read or listen to what you have recorded.
Read or listen to your thoughts!
- What do they consist of?
- What types of thoughts are you thinking?
- What is your self-talk?
- Is it repetitive, negative, unuseful?
- Is it positive, useful, needed?
- What are your thought habits?
You will be able to see much more clearly how beneficial or non-beneficial your thoughts are if you become more aware of what they are.
Often, when thoughts are continually going round and round in our head, we don't notice them. They are so habitual and automatic.
You will learn much about yourself by noticing your thoughts!
Awareness is the key.
'All healing is awareness: becoming aware of what we were previously aware of, and then we have new choices' (Gilles Marin)
An important part of this exercise is to be curious and non-judgemental.
Don't judge the thoughts as good or bad, just be curious and notice what they are.
Be the observer, the witness.
Notice the patterns, especially the repeated patterns of thinking.
Familiarize yourself with your thoughts. They are, after all, your thoughts!
And then of course, you can CHOOSE which thoughts to keep, and which ones to throw away.
Happy mouse-thought-hunting!
Want to learn and practice more techniques like this?
When you engage in private health-coaching with Kim, or register for an online e-health program, you will learn many constructive techniques like this for dispelling negative emotions, getting rid of symptoms / illness, managing your mind and more.
