How To Stop Thinking... Locating The "Off" Switch

Learning how to stop thinking is perhaps the greatest single step we can make to increase inner peace and happiness in our lives. Chewing over and over on the same old thoughts is one of the main obstacles to happiness.

Circumstances, by themselves, do not make us happy or unhappy. It is the thoughts about the situation that affect our peace... and the thoughts about the thoughts, for that matter!

So how to stop thinking?"
First, it is important to understand the difference between thoughts and thinking. Thoughts arise by themselves, in spite of us, whereas thinking
can be a conscious choice.

You can test this for yourself by trying the following exercise:

Close your eyes and watch to see what your next thought will be. When it appears, open your eyes.

Did you have any idea what the next thought would be? Did it's appearance have anything to do with you? Where did it come from? Where did it go to?

The key on how to stop thinking is awareness. When we step back and watch our thoughts; simply being aware that thoughts are there, the chain of thoughts (thinking) is broken. When we simply watch... without trying to stop them, fix them, without judgment, without analysis... we change our relationship with our mind. Any trying to force the mind or change the thoughts is counter-productive and unnecessary.

Thoughts in themselves are not a problem. The problem arises from our relationship WITH the thoughts. As Eckhart Tolle says in his book "The Power of Now", thinking creates problems out of situations.

Thinking is simply a string of related thoughts. The power of our awareness is all that is needed to break the flow. Thinking is a conscious choice... if we are aware. Without awareness, thinking remains unconscious and we remain slaves to the mind.

So, as you go through your day, try to bring more awareness to your thinking.The moment you become aware that you are thinking, thinking stops!

If you are serious about learning how to stop thinking I would strongly recommend taking up some form of daily meditation practice. I personally use and teach The Ishaya's Ascension.

For details on course schedules visit www.thebrightpath.com.

Related Pages:
Addictive Thinking / Monkey Mind / Obsessive Thinking
Mind Over Mood / Non-Attachment / What You Resist Persists

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