#40 Thoughts are just thoughts

     “My life has been filled with terrible misfortunes – most of which have never happened.”                          Mark Twain

     “It is remarkable how liberating it feels to be able to see that your thoughts are just thoughts and they are not ‘you’ or ‘reality’. For instance, if you have the thought that you have to get a certain number of things done today and you don't recognize it as a thought but act as if it's ‘the truth’, then you have created a reality in that moment in which you really believe that those things must all be done today. . . . On the other hand, when such a thought comes up, if you are able to step back from it and see it clearly, then you will be able to prioritize things and make sensible decisions about what

really does need doing. You will know when to call it quits during the day. So the simple act of recognizing your thoughts as thoughts can free you from the distorted reality they often create and allow for more clear sightedness and a greater sense of manageability in your life.”

     Kabat-Zinn J. “Full catastrophe living. Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness”. Dell Publishing, NY, 1990.

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