{"id":15521,"date":"2015-01-28T12:55:30","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T17:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/?p=15521"},"modified":"2019-09-07T17:26:21","modified_gmt":"2019-09-07T21:26:21","slug":"your-thoughts-are-clouds-not-rocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/your-thoughts-are-clouds-not-rocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Your thoughts are clouds not rocks"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"rock
rock pile (a cairn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was listening to a new podcast called Invisibilia<\/a>\u00a0and the hosts were discussing the topic of unwanted thoughts. (“The Secret History of Thoughts” is the episode title)<\/p>\n

Any thoughts from the emotionally self-injuring ones, to violent ones, to obsessive thoughts and worries. Everyone has them and some people develop\u00a0dysfunctions\u00a0that make life difficult or unbearable. Anxiety has a lot to do with it too.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What thoughts really are and how meaningful they are has been up for debate by professionals over\u00a0the last 100 years.<\/h3>\n

Here are the top 3.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Theory 1: Thoughts are very meaningful and are red flags of something deeper and sometimes something more sinister. (Freud and his ilk)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Theory 2: Thoughts are not as meaningful as we thought and the key is to compensate or overcome them with opposite (reforming) thinking over a period of time (Cognitive Behavior Therapy).<\/p>\n

\u2022 Theory 3: Of the three top theories,\u00a0a\u00a0third one in particular is getting momentum right now. To me, it seems to have an “ancient\/new” quality to it…<\/strong><\/p>\n

The advice goes something like this. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Keep the good thoughts and let the others float away.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Does that sound flaky?<\/p>\n

Think of it as laid back. Chill.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The idea flies in the face of modern psychology that has\u00a0us dig around a lot and examine every negative thought. Analyze it, get to what you think is the root, dig some more, and pick it all apart. See if has something to do with a repressed issue, a dark secret, the bad parents we\u00a0probably had, or primal urges to kill and hump, and whatnot.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The third theory\u00a0also is a very different tact<\/strong> than what happens with theory #2.<\/p>\n

Maybe thoughts are like clouds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your thoughts are nothing to worry about. Probably.<\/p>\n

So the new <\/strong>tactic\u00a0for dealing with unwanted thoughts is about <\/strong>training our focus<\/span> and being gracious with ourselves. Sounds like a spiritual discipline to me!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It’s\u00a0a recollection of the ancient idea that what you feed<\/em>, grows and dominates.<\/p>\n

Some proverb like…<\/em><\/p>\n

“There are two wolves fighting inside each of us. One is good and one is bad\u2013and each one wants to rule the other. Which one\u00a0will win? …The one you feed.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

or<\/p>\n

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.\u00a0And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
\nref<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some times I assume\u00a0my\u00a0passing or repeating unwanted thoughts have larger meaning and import, but maybe they just move in and around like the weather. I make them weighty like rocks. Maybe that’s not helpful. We take these rocks and place them in a pile, sometimes, don’t we?<\/p>\n

We worry about our worries. We worry about what is wrong with us. We make a big, sad pile to stand for something, like a reminder…or…<\/p>\n

we make a\u00a0cairn<\/a>. But, the wrong kind. A cairn\u00a0should be\u00a0a trail marker or situate like\u00a0standing stones<\/a> marking the best of ourselves or our dreams. A cairn is about hope.<\/p>\n

Your repetitive thoughts aren’t stones, they are clouds.<\/p>\n

The good thoughts can get a upgrade to something more substantial…let the others drift\u00a0away.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Creative commons photo by\u00a0Samuel Betenholz<\/a>.<\/h6>\n
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