Every day we have between ten to seventy thousand thoughts. That a lot of thinking!! Fortunately, these ideas are not who we are. If we reduce these thousands of thoughts to those few that we make actionable, there is still a need for caution. Why? Because a large percentage of these thoughts are not true and largely based on conjecture, incomplete information, false assumptions or emotional fast thinking. And other are just not helpful or constructive.
Our mind is programmed to react quickly and instinctively to uncertain or potentially threatening stimuli. The “better safe than sorry” response was essential to survival until very recently. It was not useful to ponder whether that danger was real or imagined. It was better to run, seek shelter or be on guard lest the threat was real. Yet we continue this tradition of not questioning our assumptions, sources of information or expectations and going forward on mis-truths or wrong conclusions. Far too often what we believe is other than true. Rather what we believe is often convenient and supports the status quo, goals or our prior prejudices.
Dan Milman noted that: “You don’t have to control your thoughts. You must stop letting them control you.” Even if our thoughts are correct and complete, are they helpful or hopeful? Just like questioning what we believe, we should also be on guard about why we believe them and whether that conclusion is going to make us a better person.
Many of our truthful thoughts are dysfunctional and distracting. Willpower, mindfulness and resolve needs to be applied to manage our speculative imagination and thinking. Asking where these thoughts are taking us is useful. Are we ruminating? Are our thoughts appealing to our better or worst nature? Are these thoughts building us up or bring us down?
We need to act like a principled judge and jury when we cede control of our thoughts and convert them into actions. We should pick and choose those very few thoughts which are true, helpful, hopeful and well-being focused and let them direct our actions.