Stream of consciousness

The complexities of defining concepts that seem to provide answers to our behaviours can be challenging. As human beings, our greatest and most valuable asset is our consciousness. We are drawn to what our consciousness entails. However, there is a side to our consciousness that we must examine: our internal dialogue—the one that provokes emotions, memories that trigger sentiments, or reactions to situations. These aspects of our consciousness are within our control because they have reached our awareness. I find that understanding the mind—having internal conversations and becoming aware of the thoughts that surface—whether when I am alone or with others, helps me better understand myself. The idea of discovering the control we have within ourselves to choose what we think and to shift emotions or states of being is fascinating. 

After going through a difficult moment, I sought to understand why we are so attracted to negative thoughts and why we tend to spiral. I concluded that we are attracted to and crave what is offered to us freely, often without questioning it until it has already been processed. It’s like being starved and able to eat anything; when you finally eat what is available, you soon realize it doesn’t benefit you. Consider someone on a strict diet who craves nourishment but is conscious that they won’t eat just anything—that’s the power of self-control and willpower, making beneficial choices. 

So, why is it easier to do this with external things and not with internal processes? I can't say for sure, but from my experience, tangible things help us tune into our senses and recognize that what we sense can be changed or shifted. When it comes to our thoughts or internal dialogue, a simple method is to verbalize or write them down. I found that writing or talking aloud helps me become conscious of my thought process, rather than letting it be overshadowed by the many other thoughts piling up. When I was caught in negative spirals of overthinking and overanalyzing, I made it a point to verbalize what I was experiencing. (When alone, our thoughts tend to spiral freely, so having someone to talk to or distract us can help.) Even then, it takes willpower to express ourselves when we’re unsure of what’s happening inside. Verbalizing what was on my mind allowed me to distance myself from those thoughts, realizing that our consciousness is simply a field of words we can select if we quiet the storm, making our thoughts unreadable. 

Seeing these thoughts as separate from me helped me understand their origins more clearly, and from there, I could shift perspectives, alter the thoughts, and quiet the unwanted ones. It’s a process that requires time and commitment, but with willingness, discipline, and practice, anything is possible. Be patient and kind to yourself because our mind can play tricks on us—even when we’re unaware of it. The goal here is to start gaining awareness of our consciousness. So, why not begin verbalizing the storm within your mind instead of letting it bombard you unexpectedly with confusing, meaningless thoughts? Maybe try meditating, talking to yourself or someone else, or writing it down.

Z.