Finding Your Authentic Self - Part 2

Dealing with all of those thoughts.

Last time I wrote about tuning in to your authentic self through quiet time and meditation. So, what to do next? You've taken some time to listen to yourself, but if you're honest you have to admit that a lot of what runs through your head is complete nonsense!

Our brains are like computers. We are constantly processing information and filtering it. The filters are formed by the impressions we've been exposed to, such as television, the comments and opinions of other people, what we've heard or read from the media, childhood experiences, inherited beliefs, etc. As a result, sometimes your thoughts are just plain wrong and don't reflect your true self or your true beliefs.

Remember that your thoughts are not who you are. Just because a thought passes through your mind doesn’t mean that’s how you really feel. We must not react to every thought that we have. When something that your authentic self knows to be "wrong" passes through your mind, stop and acknowledge that it was just a thought and nothing more.

So while you can’t control your thoughts, you can control your emotions and your reactions. Most people have it backward. They believe they can control what they think, but that they have no control over their emotions. Emotions and actions together form a reaction to the thoughts that you are having. You can choose to react or not to react.

Your thoughts are not you. Dismiss what doesn't serve you and move on.