Thoughts drive through our minds all the time. Like traffic, they might flow smoothly. But they sometimes also back up, causing a traffic jam. When they collide, the impact can truly throw us psychologically—making you anxious, depressed, or generally distressed.
However, just because they are driving through your mind, it does not mean they represent an objective reality. They are often more a figment of your imagination than an observation. So, for a life that flows smoothly, it is essential that you not believe everything you think.
People have all kinds of thoughts all the time. We often direct our thoughts as we consider certain issues at hand, but thoughts also frequently happen to us. They flow through our minds, being propelled by some unconscious force. These thoughts can be positive, negative, or neutral. But they can be particularly upsetting when they are self-critical or engender distress, such as I never do anything right; My boss thinks I’m an idiot; or, I will never land a job.
When you pay attention to your thoughts, you will discover that you don’t intellectually believe some that feel true. For example, you may think that your boss sees you as stupid and even feel like it’s true. However, when you reflect on her praise of you at different times, you may realize that this thought does not really make sense. In circumstances like this, it can help to remind yourself, Just because it feels true, that doesn’t make it true.
