You Are Not Your Thoughts

The moment you stop identifying with the stories in your mind, is the moment you find peace.

And every moment is a new opportunity to do so.

In any given moment, we are either identifying with the stories in our mind, or we are aware of them. Many people go their whole lives thinking falsely believing that they are the narrator in their heads.

The stories your mind tells you, aren’t real. They are habits. They are born from the experiences you’ve lived and the personality you developed, based upon those experiences. That’s what the ego does.

I remember when I first heard the term “ego” so long ago, I thought it meant someone who thought very highly of themselves. Someone who had a “big ego”, thought they were hot shit, but no, that is not what the ego is.

That may be a patterned thought of the ego, but so is believing you are worthless.

In 2013, I read “A New Earth”, by Eckhart Tolle, and began to understand the ego better. Eckhart defines the ego as a false sense of self, that is created when you completely identify with your unobserved thoughts, emotions, body, and external possessions.  

The ego is the incessant, compulsive stream of thinking that most people mistake for their true self.

The ego is a part of your human experience. It is the computer in your mind that deciphers your experiences, and sets you up with rules to live by. The ego is the one that tells you stories about what other people are doing. It tells you stories about what others are thinking. It tells you when and why you should feel fearful, shameful, worthless, or better than everyone else.

As kids, we are also susceptible to programming from the egos of those around us - scary as that may seem.

For example, when you are a child and raise your hand to answer a question in class, only to find out that you are wrong, you might feel embarrassed. In response, your ego decides you shouldn’t try to do that again, to protect you from embarrassment.

It may react by telling you that you are stupid, or not as good as others. Again, this may be the ego voice of our parents, and what their parent’s egos said to them.

The ego wants you to follow some sort of rules and react according to what will be least painful for you. It thinks it is “protecting” you. In reality, it often brings more pain than anything else - in the way of discomfort and dis-ease.

Your soul self is your true self.

It is the quiet observer. Always present, appreciative, and loving. Your soul self is driven when inspired, and knows when to rest. Your soul self is the one who allows life to unfold, without trying to control everything. It isn’t fearful or dramatic. It doesn’t judge. It is peace.

It is presence in every moment. It is love.

The greatest gift of meditation is quieting the mind enough to make space for the soul. Meditation also helps us practice observing our thoughts, which helps us understand that we are the observer, not the thoughts.

Notice the stories your mind is telling you.

Ask yourself, is this something I want to be true? Does this make my life better?

If not, choose a better feeling thought. You can tell whatever story you want. Or better yet, none.

No judgements, no comparisons. No resentments or victim stories. No irrational fears. Nothing.

Just be peace.

What if the part of you that knew everything was going to be OK, was the one running the show? This is what happens, when you practice awareness of thoughts, and living in the space of the observer. You tip the scales in favor of being in the seat of the soul versus the seat of the ego.

Can you imagine what it would feel like every day to not have somebody making you feel bad about yourself, telling you what you should be doing, or questioning your worth?

What if you didn’t have a constant stream of fearful thoughts trying to control things that cannot be controlled?

Your soul self only wants what’s best for you, and knows what that is, because your soul is aligned with God/Source/Higher Consciousness, always.

This is the true you. The you that will transcend this human existence.

 You don’t have to live on autopilot, with a rude inner roommate who is constantly questioning everything.

Make meditation or some type of daily intentional practice of connecting to your true essence, and you will have more peace.

Life from this space is better in every way.

I recommend daily meditation first thing in the morning, before your thoughts have had too much time to take you anywhere else. Make it a ritual. There are no rules. You can lie in bed and listen to the birds. You can tune in to a meditation app like Insight Timer and be guided toward your bliss.

The goal isn’t to be thoughtless. The goal is to become aware of them so you recognize that they are not you. You are the powerful peaceful presence underneath it all.