Thinking: Friend or Foe
You want clarity. . . yet thought after thought sweeps through your awareness. Notice how your mind on autopilot shuttles you away from the richness of now and into stories about yesterday or worries about tomorrow. There is nothing wrong with this, but it does carry a hidden cost: every moment you spend unaware of mental chatter is a moment you are not fully present with the person in front of you, the wind in the trees, or the quiet voice of your own heart. Presence is where peace grows. Thought is a brilliant tool in your toolbox only when you choose to pick it up and, just as intentionally, set it down.
Choosing Presence Over Noise
You do not need to declare war on your thinking. In other words, thinking is natural for you. Leonard Jacobson reminds you that thinking is a magnificent instrument the moment you remember it is an instrument. When you realize that memories and projections are imagined landscapes, you step out of illusion and place your feet on the solid ground of your breath. From here you decide: do you need thought right now or is simple presence enough? Each conscious pause trains your nervous system to recognize silence as home. With practice, you move easily between purposeful thinking and restful awareness, carrying the light of now into every plan, conversation, and creative act.
Practicing Conscious Thought
I encourage you to experiment with this. Schedule short windows when you intentionally think about strategy, logistics, or innovation. When the window closes, put thinking down as you would place a tool back in the toolbox. Notice sensation, sound, and spaciousness fill the gap. Mark the shift with one deep inhale and a slow exhale. Over time you will discover that deliberate thinking is sharper, faster, and far less draining than the maddening stream you once believed was unavoidable. Presence becomes natural, and thought becomes a trusted ally rather than a restless master.
Journaling Prompt:
Set a timer for three minutes. Ask yourself: Where in my life is thinking serving me, and where is it silently stealing my peace? Write without editing until the bell rings.
Final Thought
“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” — Ram Dass
The 10 Disciplines
The next Group Coaching Program starts on September 22nd. During this 10-session experience, you'll deepen your understanding of yourself and learn how to protect your boundaries so your True Self can lead and truly Shine.
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Much love ❤️
Rob