Mindful thinking or mindfulness of thoughts isn’t so much about controlling our thoughts as it is about learning to not allow our thoughts to control us. When we practice mindful thinking and become aware of the habitual patterns of the mind, we develop the freedom to choose something different. Typically we’re so caught up in thought that we’re not aware that we’re thinking.
Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just that—thoughts. –Allan Lokos
The instruction on mindfulness of the mind in the Sattipatthana Sutta invites us to contemplate the mind by being aware when we experience a lustful, angry, deluded, contracted, distracted, great, narrow, surpassable, unsurpassable, concentrated, unconcentrated, liberated or unliberated mind. We are invited to contemplate these states of mind internally in ourselves and externally in others, notice the nature of arising and passing away related to the mind, and abide not clinging to anything as we remain aware and contemplating the mind.
Mindfulness of thoughts and the mind practice can help us to be aware of thought patterns that create suffering. We can learn how to relate with difficult thoughts with friendliness and responsiveness, without reactivity. We can learn to be compassionate observers of our thoughts rather than believing them and becoming entangled in them.
Contact Jen for a free 15-minute mindfulness coaching session.