And it’s over simplistic. By signing up for this guide, you will also be added to my mailing list. But which came about by accepting the judgements of yourself and others. Your thoughts, feelings and emotions are not who you really are. The notion that you are not your thoughts is a radical one. If the dice lands on 1, then you are happy. Those who live life directly. Tiffany, this is a great question. "Of course not!" Set aside all memories of the past — as if you had just arrived on earth in this moment. Just as clouds of all shapes and sizes float across the unchanging sky, all kinds of thoughts come and go against the backdrop of your unchanging awareness. Your thoughts appear only to you, and are not being heard by anyone else whatsoever. To realise that you are not your thoughts is when you begin to awaken spiritually —Eckhart Tolle. I too was very struck by Eckhart Tolle’s book. My confusion comes from the fact we use language to communicate to each other all day everyday. This is what we do when we grab onto thoughts— when we identify with them, believe they are who we are and struggle against them. He has been, without doubt, one the most important and inspirational teachers on my own  journey. Or we could argue that it begins at conception. take a pen and roll it back and forth in the palm of your open hand. It goes against everything we have been conditioned to believe all our lives. Emotional love comes and goes within a greater you. They are temporary events arising in awareness. I’m happy it helped Isobel. We usually say that it begins when they are born, but the fetus lives before that so we could say life begins at a certain number of weeks of pregnancy. Most people believe they ARE their emotions and remain slaves to whatever arises. My thoughts are my own but they do not describe me. Does that make sense? When I love other people, I am also doing a great service to myself. When I realised thoughts were just thoughts and I can take them or leave them i felt free but it’s also a little overwhelming.. who have I been all this time ? How does that work for relationships? Who we take ourselves to be is really an ever-changing kaleidoscope of all the above. As we’ve just seen, negative thinking isn’t the problem: the real problem is identifying with your thoughts. It is the idea of Unity that will help everyone break free of their limitations and feel a breath of fresh air, maybe for the first time in their lives. I understand this practice when done in stillness but not as you go through you day in between stillness with self and interacting with other people. Well, you could measure the diameter by it’s visible fire. It is all ONE. It can be alluded to or pointed at but not expressed. …You are not your thoughts. Which “you” are you referring to? Is there anything you have put aside that, if you were to take it back, would enhance your experience of this moment? Soil and nutrients, water, bees to pollinate it, sunlight, a planet with our exact atmosphere of air, etc. The idea that you can watch the mind and therefore can’t be it, is a game changer for every spiritual aspirant. It’s that idea, or concept of self, that ego that we make up, that gets in the way of experiencing life/reality directly. PAGES OF. Hi, You are not your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, concepts and models. Can you speak to that please? I had always assumed that “I” was my thoughts, or my intellect. We need to realize that “The Essence of Life is … Life Itself” and Life Is “Now” The Moment. Or choose to live in the moment at all times, and do away with the patterns a self-image creates altogether. That would seem like we are dissociating from negative ones or ones we may not want to act on. Instead of Fighting Your Thoughts, Learn to Observe Them. A wall of thoughts tumbled back into my head. You don’t have to engage with them at all if that’s what you choose. More accurately, it blew apart my ideas of what I thought the mind was. When you meditate, who are you? And some say, that you are not even the observer. “The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Keep that in mind for a second while we talk about the next important point. Now, temporarily put aside all thoughts of who you are, any image you have of yourself, any ideas associated with a personal identity—all notions such as male or female, rich or poor, young or old. You could say they are, I go into this topic in more detail in my book “. You could call this a divine little spark. But think of it logically, You can only be one of two things. If you struggle in your thought-life, then you probably already know that immoral thinking is leading you straight into sin. “… You’ve told me that “You are not your thoughts” something I am trying to grasp still. BE LOVE.” Love is the ground of who you are beyond thoughts, feelings and emotions. …”. Our Magick is restrained, we become rats in a race. How big is the sun? Great question! To put it more accurately, it is not so much that you use your mind wrongly — you usually don’t use it at all. The more you can focus your thoughts on something, the more likely you’ll be able to achieve it. I hope this makes sense. If you don’t, you… You are not your thoughts, ideas, beliefs, concepts and models. Your thoughts and feelings do not make you weird or broken. Here are my thoughts on this, and I would like others to share. But the reality is, the question doesn’t really have a satisfactory answer. If You Are Not Your Thoughts, Then Who Are You Really? OR it could simply be a statement of truth… that we are in fact, way more than our thoughts and our feelings. But still a slave to your own mental model. A powerful adult. Put aside all thoughts of the future. Without commentary, thoughts, feelings and emotions are neutral events. When you know you are not the mind, you no longer have to take it so damn seriously. In truth, who you are today is not the same person you were yesterday, or even 5 minutes ago. And yes, all you need to do is notice them … notice how they arise from nowhere, linger for a bit and then pass on. Here’s to your bliss, Jim That’s all the ego is. It offers an interesting perspective on our relationship with thoughts (you’ll find an audio version below). https://www.thinklessandgrowrich.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/youarenotyourthoughts.m4a, 8 Signs You May Be Having A Spiritual Awakening, Why You Don’t Need A Peaceful Mind To Experience Peace, What You Resist Persists—How To Embrace Life Just As It Is, Gratitude Is The Bridge To Your Authentic Self, How To Quieten The Mind And Unlock Your Inner Treasure. Peaceful? Simply put: You are not your thoughts. When the Indian saint Papaji said, “Don’t be a peaceful person. But these are all just abstractions of the truth. To be clear, it’s not okay if these thoughts are distressing, and it’s definitely not okay that you find yourself at the end of your rope. It has power, not only when we judge someone on their appearance, but also with social issues, political issues, family issues. Everybody is! Haven’t rewritten it yet. 6 - stressed out. Hi Wendy, If anything, we function more efficiently. Hi Andrew, In my experience, not identifying with the drama in my head doesn’t make me emotionless or lacking in empathy for others. Fantastic post. They may be a part of who you are in this moment. Both are illusions.” I discovered that I am not who I think I am. Thoughts changes frequently. As one of my teachers told me, “Leave the mind alone. According to the self-created theory, your thoughts are a direct extension of your identity—your character, personality, and true desires. Just enjoy the moment, whatever passing feelings are there… whether happy or sad. Etc. I loved this article! Thank You. Nobody seemed to be able to articulate it in a way that made sense to me. Because the pen is not part of the hand, you can choose to drop it in any moment. But this mental division, creates the illusion that the world contains separate things, when it does not. Boy, was this something I struggled with for a long time. This is the error. We do what needs to be done without being pulled in a hundred directions at once. How do you carry on a conversation in that state or do day-to-day activities? If you want to read more about making peace with a busy mind,  check these articles out: Why Trying To Fix Your Thoughts Will Never Give You The Peace You Are Looking For, How To Stay Calm, Even With A Head Full Of Negative Thoughts. All rights reserved. He gives us a glimpse now and then, but only when we see Him face to face will we understand, but even then, not all. The ‘you’ you take yourself to be today is very different from the 10 year-old, 20 year-old or 40 year-old you. There are two types of love. They are known only to you. I think there is a danger of seeing emotion as something alien, and therefore every time strong emotions arise – we think there is something wrong. The more you identify yourself with the Inner Witness, the freer you are and the more potential you have to control your body, mind, and emotions. I used to like to think myself in others’ shoes when I watch movie, anime, or in real life because I loved getting emotional and feel for the individuals, but after practicing mindfulness, I lose interest and find it pointless to make emotional rollercoaster. Whether they are positive, negative or somewhere in between. It’s freeing. So, who are You anyway? The passing thoughts, feelings and emotions are not who you are. Your thoughts appear in your head. That’s great Jonathan. First, find a comfortable position. you say. My question is , what do we do of the emotions then, even if we don’t identify myself with the emotions, are you saying we just let them pass? Uni — meaning “one.”. If it lands on 3, then you are bored. How could they not be who you are? Also as I am sure you know, we are bio-chemical beings. And yet, the awareness that is aware of thoughts (feelings and emotions too) hasn’t changed one bit. Knowing exactly what you are doing at all moments. Expansive? I see now I have been running with many thoughts for a while …. Trapped in my thoughts. Or should I try to enjoy the present? Let’s take a closer look. You are whatever touches your soul more deeply than anything. When your ego is silent, as with deeper meditation, you can observe your ego. However Just reading this has given a feeling hope and that I can find peace of mind once more and enjoy life more. So if the thoughts are not who we are, why are they private for each of us? It struck me for the first time in 1997, after reading “The Power Of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. An Insight From Bio-Feedback Brain Training. How does a tiger hunt without thinking? Tat Twam Asi – I Am That. That moment of taking a moment to pause before indulging in the emotions attached to a event or situation is such a valuable lesson to learn and you are so right to bring it to attention. Empty? Everything in your experience would suggest otherwise. Two very different answers, right? Hi Richard, I found this article very helpful. You observe and choose to act or not act upon the ideas, even the happy ones. They are known only to you. This article really helped me to see the distinction between consciousness and thought/emotion, and I will be exploring more of your work and books. You say “it seems very robotic or zombie-like being present without thought”. You are not the thinker of your thoughts (that would be the lizard brain), you're the one who hears them. You would be directionless like an empty zombie not knowing what you want or dont want. I go into this topic in more detail in my book “Awaken The Happy You.”. If you need to, then keep your list of strengths where you can see it so that when you need to use positive self-talk you have some ideas of what to say. But when I speak out words of hatred toward someone else, I am pointing them directly to myself. So deep in its pure, divine form. You could say they are impersonal, in that you play no part in their appearance and disappearance. Now empty yourself of any concepts, beliefs or knowledge you have about the world. 16.3k Likes, 0 Comments - Maxi Lopez (@officialmaxilopez) on Instagram: “if you are not your thoughts, Then Who are you ?” Really simply, if I’m not my thoughts and emotions, who or what am I? In our response lies our growth and our freedom. If you’re not your thoughts, or your emotions, then when you sense these things arising, you can let them go, just as easily as they arose. You can always take a moment to be mindful and become aware of what you are playing on the stage of your mind. This is PROOF that the thoughts are not ‘who you are’. Our spoken human languages necessitates the division into objects. Conscious? Look to the child for guidance in spirit and truth. I wrote a thought. Aware? It’s perfectly possible to experience feelings of sadness and remain totally happy. Tracing the roots of your thoughts to the deepest layers of your psyche can help you deal with anxieties, phobias and neuroses. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8) If you look closely at everything that makes up what you call ‘me, the person’ — body, mind, thoughts, feeling and emotions — you will see that none of it is constant or solid. I have recently been reading a lot about how we are not our thoughts, but I was stuck with the ‘why’. Your thoughts appear in your head. If we are not our thoughts how are we holding conversations of meaning with one another? The instrument has taken you over.”. Your consciousness is the consciousness of the universe. Find the part of your experience that doesn’t change and abide there. When does life begin for a person? But after you’ve been on the planet for a few years, you begin to see that this doesn’t reflect reality. View my privacy policy. You believe that you are your mind. I believe it’s also possible to get too stuck in the negative aspects of ourselves… to become a therapy junkie. You are not your thoughts | You are the awareness that remains when you stop thinking Who you think you are is not who you are. The Buddha. You are the awareness of your awareness. MOTIVATION. You identify with the anger. You are the radio receiving and transmitting thoughts, but not the thoughts themselves. When I first experienced bliss in meditation for that split second… “I” ceased to exist. You suffer, not because anger or sadness is present, but because you mistake temporary states as being who you are. I’m stuck at not understanding moving through life with flow as well as being able to interact with my surroundings if not based on my thoughts. That speaks of the flower. You are awesome. The self-created theory argues that you ar… What I thought was me, was not there anymore…. Thank you for this beautiful article. Just empty. As Eckhart Tolle so wisely wrote, “…the past gives you an identity and the future holds the promise of salvation, of fulfillment in whatever form. You become aware that, “there is the mind doing it’s thing and here am I, watching.”. Interesting read. One of the first things you notice is that thoughts are self-arising. I was in a spiritual organisation many years ago who taught that all you have to do to be spiritually awake is to never entertain your thoughts, feelings etc. Here’s another. “You” are presence itself. I respectfully disagree. The sperm? It asks you to have another look at the way you’ve got things set up in your mind. More importantly, you’re not your mistakes. It’s arbitrary that the diameter of the sun is limited by its visible fire. It would be more accurate to describe it not as a flower, but as a flowering. But focusing too much on your thoughts, especially dark ones, can often end up reinforcing them, and giving them more solidity than they actually have. The spiritual teacher Papaji said: “Don’t be a person in love. You may say it is problem because you percieve it as problem, but she won’t stop. And that LIFE is another name for you. You personalise them and suffer as a result. You are your mind, just not the one you think you have. In my opinion, it is good to work with healing the negative patterns inside ourselves whilst at the same time maintaining the overview that the mind is only part of who we are. It offers an interesting perspective on our relationship with thoughts (you’ll find an, You have no idea what the next thought will be. I’m really pleased that you got something out of this , Next post: An Insight From Bio-Feedback Brain Training. It has no beginning or end. It has no preferences and remains unaffected by whatever thoughts pass through. Not only that, but our thoughts are not even OUR thoughts. Thoughts occur through you, like a radio transmitting a frequency signal. This is clearly not the case. Claire Weekes in her book “Self Help For Your Nerves” describes these thoughts as “Tired thoughts in a tired mind” – this is a wonderfully simple description I will not sell or distribute your email address to a third party at any time. Thoughts are many, awareness is one. Great article, I recently REALISED that I am not my thoughts. When I realised a couple years ago that I was not my thoughts I felt liberated from my mind. Take a few deep breaths and as you exhale, do so with a sense of releasing, a sense of letting go. I had a much needed conversation with Greg last night, and since then I have been thinking about a lot of different things. They speak in your voice. Like someone mentioned above it seems very robotic or zombie-like being present without thought. We affirm that since we are the experiencer of the thought, they must be true. Realising you are not your thoughts is a pivotal moment in each person’s spiritual journey. You might want to try this exercise? The notion that you’re not your thoughts could provide you with an excuse for not taking responsibility for the negativity within ie to spiritually bypass. A process. You are not your thoughts because thoughts come and go and you should allow them to do so with little attachment. 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