We all have those moments where the same negative thoughts and patterns keep popping up, hindering our growth and happiness. This feeling of being trapped in a repeating cycle isn’t a coincidence – our brains are wired for efficiency which means that the repetition of old conditioning uses the least energy. And so familiar patterns, even unhealthy ones, can become ingrained over time. But what if there was a way to break free from this cycle and access a whole new level of potential? The answer lies in cultivating a powerful skill: witnessing your thoughts.
“Become a witness to your thoughts.” – Tara Brach
“Each time you meet an old emotional pattern with presence, your awakening to truth can deepen. There’s less identification with the self in the story and more ability to rest in the awareness that is witnessing what’s happening. You become more able to abide in compassion, to remember and trust your true home. Rather than cycling repetitively through old conditioning, you are now actually spiraling toward freedom.” – Tara Brach
Have you experienced being “the observer”? Where you’re having thoughts and you realize that you’re not caught up in the thinking, but it’s like you’re watching the thinking with just a little more distance. Where instead of feeling like, “I am drowning!” you’re almost looking down on yourself and seeing yourself having the experience, “I can see that I feel like I’m being hit by wave after wave, struggling to take a breath.”
If I can step outside myself and look at myself, then which part of me is doing this ‘seeing’? In Buddhist philosophy there is a term for this, it’s called ‘wisely seeing’. With practice it means that I step outside of my old ‘automatic’ response (pattern), and I am giving myself the opportunity to exercise actual freedom of choice, instead of letting an old programme do my decision making for me.
“Feeling compassion for ourselves in no way releases us from responsibility for our actions. Rather, it releases us from the self-hatred that prevents us from responding to our life with clarity and balance.” – Tara Brach
Can you take responsibility without self-judgement? Can you hold yourself accountable without self-criticism? Can you take a close look at any mistake you’ve made without the urge to punish yourself for it?
In our attempt to do better it’s easy to use the same old tools that were used on us before: shame, punishment and guilt. But in truth, these redundant old tools awaken within us a self-hatred that clouds our vision and prevents us from fully embodying the observer. Think about it, how would you be able to take an honest look at yourself if you’re simultaneously ashamed of what you see? Love asks you to put away the judgement and also, to hold yourself accountable.
Become a witness to your thoughts. When you find yourself being able to see EVERY part of YOU with acceptance, and also take responsibility for how you want to do things differently… you gain access to a whole new level of potential.
A few thoughts for self-reflection:
- “Am I witnessing my thoughts, or am I caught up in them?” Take a moment to pause and observe the nature of your thinking.
- “Can I acknowledge this thought without judgment?” Allow yourself to simply see the thought without getting attached to it.
- “What choice do I want to make in this situation?” Empower yourself to choose your response rather than react automatically.
By cultivating the practice of witnessing your thoughts, you embark on a journey of self-discovery and liberation. You unlock a reservoir of inner strength and compassion, paving the way for a more fulfilling and empowered life. The “Observer” meditation is waiting for you – take a step towards becoming the author of your own story, not a prisoner to your thoughts.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: The Observer.
(image credit: https://www.virtuesforlife.com/3-blocks-that-keep-you-from-reaching-your-potential/)