Thread: Ways to ignore Spontanious thoughts

But does anyone actually think verbally, or is that just a trick they use in films? I know I certainly dont think with words.

Somethings I think in words and other things I don't. These other things are usually more abstract impulses that contain a huge amount of abstract knowledge and/or feelings. I can think this way and I nfound that if I think like "Hmmm" rather than in words, meaning in wordless meaningfull thought, I have a much lower chance of getting distracted. However I find it hard to think like this and remain undisturbed by vocal spontanious thoughts.

Any tips?

Originally Posted by SKA

Somethings I think in words and other things I don't. These other things are usually more abstract impulses that contain a huge amount of abstract knowledge and/or feelings. I can think this way and I nfound that if I think like "Hmmm" rather than in words, meaning in wordless meaningfull thought, I have a much lower chance of getting distracted. However I find it hard to think like this and remain undisturbed by vocal spontanious thoughts.

Any tips?

Well, one way is to focus on some object, which is what done in virtually all meditation and WILD techniques. ( respiration, counting, mantra, visualization, sensations etc. ). After a lot of practice on a given technique, you get really good at getting into a concentrated state. This is a process which is hard to achieve, but it's possible given enough practice.

Here's a suggestion: Instead of trying to hush those thoughts altogether, or to let them pass by without getting entangled in them, which is difficult for many people, try to concentrate just during the time between the thoughts. Try to extend this time so that the thoughts become more and more fragmented. For example, if your object of concentration is respiration, then when a thought arises you can let it continue only between breaths: "tomorrow" - breath in, breath out - "I need" - breath in, breath out - "to buy.." - breath in, breath out -.
And then change it to twice breath in, breath out and then the thought fragment, and after a while 3 times, etc. until the thought gives up because it can't keep a coherent flow, and when a new thought comes, do the same. The more concentrated you are, the greater the space between the thoughts will be, until the time in which you are focused on the object of concentration is consistent enough and you become very concentrated ( a trance state ). When you reach this stage than the thoughts will not bother you so much, because you will be able to either "break" them as I described above very easily, or you will be able to think them on a separate channel than the one in which you are concentrating, so that you will be able to both think the thoughts, and focus on the object of concentration at the same time without a problem.

EDIT: You idea of turning the thoughts into sounds or into lucid thoughts is interesting. Please post if you have any progress with it.

Wow, that's really weird. I think almost COMPLETELY in words most of time. When I think in images and feelings, it most often makes me feel much happier. I dunno, I just never noticed it before! My mind tends to wander a LOT, so maybe this is related! I'm going to try to catch myself thinking in words, i.e. having conversations etc... in my head, and start thinking differently. Maybe this will help stop wandering thoughts?

I don't know if I revived a "dead" topic, but I found it an interesting topic, so...

Maybe instead of hushing these thought one could learn to detatch themselves from these thoughts by conecting all these random thoughts with a narrative storyline: As if instead of your thoughts they are lines in a book telling a story. And every "I", "mine" and "me" should be changed into "You", "His" and "He" Let's say these are 2 spontanious thoughts:

" I should get some more of that Capre Diem Ginkgo drink tomorrow"

and

" Most of my friends don't know what I'm talking about"

Instead you could make this out of it:
"He should get some more of that carpe diem ginkgo drink tomorrow" It strengthens his senses. He tried to share this helpfull drink with his friends, but most of his friends didn't know what he was talking about"

Not only do you make a continuous, narrative story of your thoughs, which I assume would be easier to focus on than just loose, random thoughts. You also take on a 3d person perspective by dissociating yourself from your own thoughts.

I guess the closer you are to sleep the stranger the story sounds, but you should try your best to make out of your thoughts an at least Somewhat sense-making story. This way you also hold on to your sense of Rationality. I'm going to try this soon. Anyone else willing to try this?