Are you aware of your default thoughts? 💭
The ceaseless thoughts that we all come back to.
Over the last month, particularly the last week, my mind (or thoughts) have been loud, to say the least.
It’s been challenging to quieten them and find mental peace…
Through this time, while there is no “science” behind my insight, I’ve realised that we tend to have thoughts that our minds come back to time and time again.
I call these our “default thoughts.”
This concept isn’t entirely new—although it might be for you—as it’s also known as “thought mentation” and is different from “thinking.” This is how…
- “Thought mentation” is the unconscious thoughts that happen automatically with little conscious effort. We don’t have much control over them.
- “Thinking” is our conscious thoughts, often used for creation.
Knowing the difference and having an understanding of the two is important and valuable in understanding ourselves and navigating this thing called life.
Because when we learn how to distinguish the two, we are more aware when our default thoughts are present, which often leads to the monkey mind and mental chatter running the show—or when we are thinking for creation!
Our monkey mind/mental chatter is that voice within our head that doesn’t shut up! And most recently, I noticed how a lot of that “chatter” is—and stems from—our default thoughts.
This helps to raise self-awareness, and from my experience at least, leads me to feeling less bad or guilty when my default thoughts are present and mental chatter is loud.
I realise that it’s not me, because these thoughts aren’t truly who we are—and I apply a strategy or two to help me navigate that moment in time!
More on strategies soon…
Because before I get to strategies, I want to share where default thoughts come from so we can understand them better.
Reflecting on this in great depth, I think that our default thoughts vary depending on the season of our lives, what’s most important to us in that season, and a collective sum of our life experiences.
For example, my default thoughts are very loud about health and nutrition at the moment. And to cut a long story short as to why—it’s because that’s what’s most important to me at this season of my life.
I also have default thoughts that are a collective sum of my life experiences, and when I’m not thinking consciously (remember—for creation), they pop up! 🎉
They can get rather annoying. So what can we do about this? Is there anything we can do, or is that just how life is?
Be warned that the following is easier said than done, and that time, consciousness, and dedication will help us to navigate this, because…
The antidote to this is awareness!
Meaning the first step is to become aware of the difference between “default thoughts” and “thinking”—as you are now.
Once we reach this first step, we can start to do something about it…
This brings us to the second step, which is about being more aware of when default thoughts are running the show in our daily lives. This is where we need some tools and strategies.
The tools and strategies I use and recommend to help quieten the mind and find more mental peace from default thoughts (and life itself 🤣) include:
- Meditation in all its forms (there are many different types, styles, and practices out there; find one or two that work for you!)
- Meditative activities, such as a walk, etc. (different from meditation, but can have a meditative effect, which can be beneficial for those who struggle with meditation)
- Journaling and self-reflection
- Breathwork and breathing exercises
These tools have massively helped me to quieten my mind and find more mental peace—something which I think we all need repeated help with. They aren’t perfect, though, and sometimes I still struggle.
They require time, consciousness, dedication, and consistency to benefit from the full positive effects that they can have.
I would recommend playing with them and finding what one, two, or three work for you. I’ve found that, much like a good builder, we want more than one tool in our toolbox.
Once this step has been dialled in—meaning that you have found tools that work for you (although it’s an ongoing process, and tools may change over time—but you get my point)—we move to step three…
Step three is becoming immune to your default thoughts and subsequent mental chatter!
It’s an advanced step that I only understand intellectually—although I have experienced times whereby I haven’t reacted to mental chatter, which is a start. But to be immune to them? I’m not there yet! 😬
I’m continuing to master step two through my daily breathwork and meditative practices, as well as cultivating as much awareness as I can in my daily life.
Remember—awareness is the antidote!
You’re now aware of the difference between “default thoughts” and “thinking.”
It’s now up to you to decide what to do with it.
REMINDERS
1.
Thoughts are passing clouds of the mind.
2.
Reality doesn’t need you to operate it. Let go or be dragged.
3.
Our greatest enemy is ignorance.