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they don’t teach you this in school
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Here’s a distinction I wish they had taught me in school: The difference between a Thought and Thinking. Thought is a noun. It requires no energy to create. And is just whatever pops up in your mind. Thinking on the other hand, is a verb. It requires effort. It’s the act of engaging with your thoughts. Thinking drains your energy. Thoughts are inevitable, thinking is optional. A core concept of Buddhist Philosophy is: Thinking is the root cause of all suffering. Think about… (pun intended) Last time you were incredibly happy: How much thinking were you doing? My guess is not much… you were in the moment. And what emotions do you feel when you’re not thinking? Most likely peace, calm, neutrality… You get my point? Any negative emotion you ever have exists because you’re thinking (whether consciously or unconsciously). So how do you stop thinking? In the same way that you would stop holding on to something very heavy: You let go. You stop engaging with your thoughts. Instead you just observe without judgment. You let the snow globe settle. That’s when clarity and peace follows. Your mind isn’t a problem to solve, it’s a storm to weather. Your role isn’t to fight the storm but to remain grounded and calm as it passes. PS: What I’m reading: The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein PPS: Last week I filmed a new Youtube Video on how to create more meaning in your life. |
Alex Ostergaard
Join 600+ readers of The Confident You Newsletter for weekly tips & tricks on how to increase Self-Confidence and live a more fulfilling life.
It’s something you might do without noticing. Something that slowly chips away at your self-confidence. Something that destroys your integrity and self-worth. It’s a silent but deadly enemy called: Breaking promises to yourself. Sound familiar? “I’ll get back to you on Friday” “Next year I’m going to start a business” “Tomorrow morning I’m going to the gym” Every time you say you’ll do something and you don’t: You slowly erode the relationship between you and your word. You slowly deteriorate...
There’s a particularly nasty group of viruses out there. Viruses that influence your thinking. They influence how you see the world. They influence your emotional state. They influence your general mood. They are everywhere yet no one is talking about them: Memetic viruses. Contagious beliefs that hijack your thinking. These thought-viruses can come from anywhere: The news, social media, your parents, friends, colleagues, teachers, even well-meaning mentors… And once they’re in your mind,...
This Monday I did a very powerful exercise. I made myself a cup of coffee, set a timer for 30 mins and started writing down all the lessons I would give my 29 year old self (just before he quit his corporate job). I then cleaned them up a bit so he could print them out and put them on his fridge. This was the final edit:1) Don’t ask people for advice who aren’t living the life you want to live. 2) “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t either way you are right” - drill this quote...