Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering (Beyond Suffering Book 1)

Our perception of reality is not solely determined by external events; rather, it is shaped by our internal thought processes. Even when two people are engaged in the same job or situation, their experiences can be vastly different. The difference lies in how they think about and perceive their circumstances, which ultimately influences how they feel about them.

Similarly, our emotions don't stem directly from external events themselves. Instead, they arise from the thoughts and interpretations we attach to those events. In other words, what we think in a given moment determines how we feel. Understanding this helps us realize that the root cause of our suffering lies in our own thinking patterns.

By acknowledging the influence of our thinking on our suffering, we gain the power to change our life experiences. Reflecting on our thoughts allows us to identify specific beliefs and thoughts that lead to negative emotions like anger or frustration. It is only by addressing the root cause of these negative emotions that we can discover inner peace and contentment.

One helpful way to minimize suffering is by acknowledging the negative thoughts and letting them pass rather than battling them head-on.

Think of it like quicksand. When we find ourselves trapped in quicksand, our instinctive reaction is to fight against it, hoping to escape. But the more we fight, the deeper we sink, and the worse we feel. It's the same with our negative thoughts and emotions. When we constantly battle against them, they tend to become stronger and make us suffer even more.

The real key to finding relief lies in releasing that struggle and allowing our inner wisdom to guide us. We need to stop forcefully suppressing or controlling our thoughts. By doing so, we create space for clarity and peace to emerge.

This means cultivating a non-judgmental awareness of our thoughts and emotions and developing the ability to observe them without getting entangled or overwhelmed. It's like watching clouds pass by in the sky – we simply let them come and go without clinging to them. Through this process, we gain a deeper understanding of our inner experiences, and we become better equipped to respond to them with wisdom and compassion.

Peak performance in humans is often attained when individuals reach a state of non-thinking. This state, known as "the zone" in sports or mushin in Japanese culture, is marked by the absence of random thoughts, anger, fear, and ego. It is a state of mind where one is fully immersed in the present moment, free from distractions and mental clutter.

When people engage in excessive thinking and over-analysis, they become hesitant, uncertain, and weighed down by doubts, insecurities, and fears. These mental processes create distractions that hinder their ability to perform at their best. Overthinking leads to a loss of focus and an inability to make quick decisions, ultimately sabotaging performance.

Non-thinking allows individuals to let go of these mental barriers and enter a state of flow where actions flow effortlessly and instinctively. What's more, since non-thinking is closely connected to shedding ego, individuals become less fixated on personal achievements, recognition, and self-consciousness. By detaching from the ego, they can solely focus on the task at hand without being distracted by seeking validation or grappling with internal insecurities.

The source of our thoughts and thinking processes can determine whether they cause suffering or not. When it comes to goals, we can determine if they will make us feel great by looking at their source.

Goals created out of desperation feel heavy, draining, and confining. They can leave us feeling empty. On the other hand, goals created out of inspiration feel light, energizing, uplifting, and expansive.

By understanding where our goals come from, we can choose to pursue those that bring us joy and fulfillment. Goals rooted in inspiration align with our true desires and passions, while those born out of desperation may not. Prioritizing inspired goals can lead to a more meaningful and satisfying journey.

Our perception of what is considered good or bad is subjective and heavily influenced by our thoughts and beliefs. To better understand this concept, let's use the analogy of a piano.

A piano consists of 88 keys, and it would be unusual for someone to single out a specific key as being "wrong" unless they were playing a particular song and hit a key that doesn't belong in that song. Similarly, in life, there are no inherently "wrong" decisions.

When we categorize things into boxes of right or wrong, good or bad, we inadvertently create a sense of duality and conditions in our lives. This, in turn, affects our emotional state. For example, if someone firmly believes that opposing political parties are fundamentally wrong or bad, this belief can foster animosity within them, giving rise to a range of negative emotions.

Negative emotions essentially signify a lack of understanding. When individuals find themselves overwhelmed by negative emotions, it is an indication that they have become deeply attached to their own thoughts and beliefs, mistaking them for an objective reality.

Rather than fixating on labeling things as right or wrong, good or bad, we should redirect our focus toward seeking the truth. The truth, in its purest form, is not subjective. Hence, we should strive to discover what is universally true for every conscious human being on this planet.

We all have access to a divine source of knowledge through our intuition. This inner wisdom connects us directly to God, the Universe, or Infinite Intelligence and can help us manifest abundance, love, joy, peace, harmony, and gratitude. To benefit from this wisdom, we need to trust our intuition and have faith that it will guide us to the best possible outcome.