ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPIRITUAL MISTAKES YOU WILL MAKE

One of the biggest spiritual mistakes you will likely make on your spiritual path is trying to control your thoughts instead of observing them. Most people struggle with the concept that they have an overactive mind. And most of us spend a lot of time stuck in our heads. Thoughts about the past, worries about the future, and random mental chatter dominate our days. That’s the challenging part many people struggle with.

The upside? More people are starting to realise that living like this isn’t ideal. For a long time, many accepted that their thoughts defined them and didn’t question it. Thankfully, I think the growing popularity of meditation and mindfulness practices is helping to change that mindset.

The Misunderstanding About Managing the Mind

For those new to meditation or mindfulness, it’s easy to misunderstand the ultimate goal. Many people recognise that their constant, often unwanted thoughts are the source of much stress. The logical next step is to try to control or suppress these thoughts.

In meditation, this might look like someone saying, “Right, I need to stop my busy mind from thinking.” While this approach might work temporarily, those thoughts tend to come roaring back stronger than ever.

Why Suppression Isn’t Mindfulness

The same misunderstanding happens in mindfulness practice. For instance, someone might admire a beautiful sunset and think, “I should stop thinking and just enjoy this moment for what it is.” Yet, this often leads to frustration when the thoughts don’t magically disappear.

Or, when a loved one says something upsetting, they might try to mentally push away their feelings by thinking, “I won’t let that rude comment upset me. They didn’t mean it like that. Stay calm.” This isn’t mindfulness - it’s suppression.

The Power of Observing, Not Controlling

Here is the key: You can’t wrestle your mind into silence. Instead, the best approach is simple - observe your thoughts.

This requires separating your true, conscious self from the part of you that generates all those thoughts (your mind). The real “you” is the observer, while the thinking mind is merely something happening in your awareness.

Why This Feels So Difficult

It’s challenging because we have spent most of our lives identifying with our thoughts. We automatically believe we are our thoughts, so it takes effort to notice this pattern and start detaching from it.

It’s also helpful to understand that the mind isn’t trying to harm us. It creates all this mental noise because it’s desperately trying to protect us and keep things “okay.” Unfortunately, it often gets things wrong.

How to Practice Nonjudgmental Observance

The solution is to practice meditation and mindfulness with the right approach. Both are about observing the present moment without judgment.

In meditation, this means paying attention to your breath, noticing sounds like a car passing by, or acknowledging a thought about yesterday’s meeting at work. That thought isn’t you - it’s just another thing appearing in your awareness, like the sound of the car or your breathing.

In mindfulness, the same principle applies. For example, if you are standing in a long checkout line at the supermarket and feel annoyance bubbling up, don’t try to suppress it.

Instead, acknowledge it: “I’m in a long line and feeling annoyed right now.”

That’s it. No judging the feeling or trying to change it. Just observe it.

The Benefits of Simply Observing

Over time, consistently observing your thoughts without judgment has a calming effect. The mind gradually becomes quieter and less intrusive. This process isn’t instant, but it works.

As your mind slows down, you will begin to find yourself feeling more peaceful, less anxious, and more focused. Best of all, you will experience greater contentment in your daily life.

The Key Takeaway to Observing Your Thoughts

The bottom line? Don’t fight your mind. Trying to control it is exhausting and ineffective.

Instead, take the simpler and more effective route: observe your thoughts without judgment. By doing so, you will unlock the wonderful benefits of a calmer, quieter mind.

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