How to stop thinking about certain things, like food

I've become very interested in meta-cognition. Or thinking about my own thinking.

Some experts suggest that we try to control our thoughts. But trying to control my thoughts seems pretty challenging to me. How can we control our thoughts?

I have no idea.

That's like trying to control the wind. It ain't happening! Having thoughts is what our mind is for. They just pop up.

But what I do believe we can control - is how we react to our thoughts.

Big difference.

Thinking is a beautiful thing, unless, we get caught up on a particular negative thought. We tend to suffer from ourselves only when we're fixated on a negative thought.

However, being aware of our own thinking can be very helpful in dealing with our own worst enemy or best friend ---> Ourselves!

For example, do you always worry? Do you always assume the worst?

There are definite thought patterns we all have. If you tend to turn molehills into mountains and worry (for no reason) realize that's what you do.

The more we can be aware of our own thinking the better off we'll be.

According to scientists the new crucial skill to making good decisions is the ability to think about our own thinking. Unless we reflect on how we're making decisions, we won't be able to use our instincts or gut.

The best predictor of good judgment isn't intuition or experience or intelligence. It's the willingness to engage in introspection.

Who wants to play, "Don't think about a grey elephant?!?!"

This game we're about to play only has one rule: Don't think about a grey elephant. You can think about anything but a grey elephant.

Ready?

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Now banish the animal from your head...

Don't worry, you're not the only one...

That's what happens. When we try to avoid thinking about a grey elephant it'll come to mind every minute. In fact, whenever we try not to think about something, it gets stuck in our loop of self-consciousness.

Our mind backfires. Our attempts at repressing the thought turn into a fixation. But because we're now aware of the fact that our mind fixates on things we can learn to not listen or trust our thoughts.

We can realize that our thoughts are just thoughts.

We don't have to necessarily react to them. We don't have to believe them. And we certainly don't have to act on them.

2 examples of how this can apply to us:

1. Let's say a family member doesn't call you back. You can go into a tail spin of thinking about why they haven't called you back. You might create all sorts of stories about what might have happened and the reasons why.

Or, you can just realize that our mind is faulty and creates all sorts of stories and that we have no good reason to believe any of them.

2. You fixate on a certain food. Therefore, you fixate on it even more. Knowing our mind is going to torture us is helpful.

But these can both be very uncomfortable thoughts - even if we're prepared for them.

Here's the key: distract yourself. Thinking about a certain food?

Quick: Think about a grey elephant!

Let's make it a mindful and thoughtful week.

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