Don't Believe Everything You Think: The Art of Noticing, Shaping, and Awakening the Mind
Saturday, August 17, 2024. This is for NZG in Wyoming, and Cisco in California.
In our fast-paced world, where thoughts often swirl uncontrollably, the idea that we shouldn’t believe everything we think invites us to a deeper engagement with our inner lives.
Don’t Believe Everything You Think.
This concept, rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), challenges us to question the validity of our internal narratives. However, when we delve further, we find that this idea is not just psychological but also profoundly spiritual.
By cultivating awareness and recognizing how our thoughts are shaped over time, we can embark on a journey toward awakening—a journey that has been explored by contemporary mystics, spiritual teachers, and philosophers.
The Spiritual Practice of Noticing: Awareness as a Path to Liberation
"Don't believe everything you think" is more than just a paradoxical intervention; it is a spiritual practice that aligns with the teachings of many contemporary mystics.
Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and spiritual teacher, emphasizes the importance of contemplation—a practice that involves seeing and accepting reality as it is, without the distortions of ego and false self.
Rohr suggests that many of our thoughts are not our own but are inherited patterns and beliefs conditioned by society, culture, and even religion (Rohr, 2011). He teaches that by noticing and observing these thoughts without attachment, we can begin to transcend them and move closer to our true selves.
Rohr’s ideas resonate with the ancient spiritual practice of mindfulness, which is deeply rooted in both Eastern and Western contemplative traditions.
Mindfulness, as taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn and others, is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment with curiosity and non-judgment. This practice allows us to see our thoughts for what they are—transient mental events rather than absolute truths. By embracing the challenge of "don't believe everything you think," we can begin to untangle ourselves from the web of automatic thoughts and reactions.
The Implications of Noticing
The spiritual implications of this practice are profound. By learning to notice our thoughts without becoming entangled in them, we can begin to dissolve the ego’s grip on our consciousness.
Many spiritual teachers, including Eckhart Tolle, echo this theme, emphasizing the importance of presence and the dangers of being lost in thought (Tolle, 1999).
Tolle, like Rohr, encourages us to recognize the “pain-body” or accumulated emotional pain, which feeds on negative thoughts and beliefs. By observing these thoughts without identification, we begin to free ourselves from their hold, reinforcing the importance of the phrase "don't believe everything you think."
Gurdjieff and the Work of Inner Transformation
The idea of not believing everything you think also resonates with the teachings of George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, a mystic and spiritual teacher who developed a unique system known as “The Fourth Way.”
Gurdjieff’s teachings center on the idea that most humans live in a state of “waking sleep,” where they are ruled by unconscious thoughts, habits, and automatic behaviors. He believed that true awakening requires conscious effort and self-observation, a practice that directly challenges the notion of believing everything you think.
Gurdjieff’s practice of self-observation is strikingly similar to the modern concept of mindfulness. He taught that by observing oneself impartially—watching thoughts, emotions, and reactions without judgment—one could begin to wake up from the mechanical, conditioned state in which most people exist (Ouspensky, 1971).
This self-observation is not about controlling or suppressing thoughts but about seeing them clearly, understanding their origins, and choosing not to be governed by them. This practice embodies the essence of "don't believe everything you think."
In Gurdjieff’s view, this work of inner transformation is essential for spiritual growth. He believed that by developing what he called “objective consciousness,” humans could transcend their ordinary state of being and achieve a higher level of awareness.
This process involves recognizing the influence of external factors—such as societal conditioning and past experiences—on our thoughts and behaviors, and then consciously working to free ourselves from these influences. Here again, the reminder to "don't believe everything you think" becomes a powerful tool for spiritual evolution.
Shaped by Time: How Our Past and Culture Influence Our Thoughts
Our thoughts are not just products of the present moment; they are shaped by our past experiences, cultural conditioning, and even our neurobiology. Daniel Kahneman’s work on cognitive biases, for example, illustrates how our thinking is influenced by deeply ingrained patterns and heuristics, which often operate outside of our conscious awareness (Kahneman, 2011).
This understanding aligns with the teachings of both Rohr and Gurdjieff, who emphasize the importance of recognizing the unconscious influences that shape our thoughts and remembering that we shouldn't believe everything we think.
However, to fully grasp the significance of "don't believe everything you think," we must also consider the spiritual dimension of how we are shaped through time. Mystics like Richard Rohr suggest that our thoughts and beliefs are often rooted in a false self—an egoic identity constructed from past wounds, societal expectations, and cultural narratives. Rohr argues that true spiritual growth involves deconstructing this false self and reconnecting with our authentic, divine nature (Rohr, 2016).
This process of deconstruction is not easy. It requires us to confront the ways in which our upbringing, culture, and even our religious traditions have shaped us. It demands that we question the very foundations of our identity and be willing to let go of thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve us. In this sense, the practice of "don't believe everything you think" is a radical act of spiritual liberation.
The Mystical Path to Mental Freedom
The journey of not believing everything you think is ultimately a path to mental and spiritual freedom.
It involves not only noticing and questioning our thoughts but also recognizing the deeper truths that lie beyond them. Spiritual teachers like Richard Rohr, Eckhart Tolle, and George Gurdjieff beautifully describe this path, emphasizing the importance of waking up from the dream of thought and connecting with a higher reality.
Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, emphasized the importance of questioning and refining one’s thoughts in the pursuit of truth.
He taught that human beings should not blindly follow their own ideas or the prevailing thoughts of society, but rather engage in deep reflection and consultation to discover what is true and just.
Abdu'l-Bahá believed that the mind is a powerful tool, but it must be guided by the spirit and the heart. He often spoke about the need for people to be aware of the influences that shape their thinking—whether cultural, societal, or personal biases—and to rise above these to achieve a clearer, more divine understanding.
In his writings and speeches, Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged the practice of detachment from one's own preconceived notions and the cultivation of an open, questioning mind.
He viewed this approach as essential to spiritual growth and the advancement of society. By not believing everything we think, Abdu'l-Bahá suggested that we create space for divine guidance and wisdom to enter our consciousness.
This process of refining our thoughts through prayer, meditation, and consultation with others allows us to align more closely with the truth and contribute more effectively to the well-being of humanity. In this way, `Abdu'l-Bahá's teachings resonate with the broader spiritual idea that we should approach our thoughts with humility and seek to transcend the limitations of our individual understanding.
In the Christian mystical tradition, this higher reality is often referred to as the “True Self” or the “Divine Indwelling.” Richard Rohr speaks of this as the part of us that is already in union with God, beyond the distortions of ego and thought (Rohr, 2016). By practicing mindfulness and self-observation, we can begin to experience this deeper self and live from a place of greater peace, compassion, and wisdom.
For Gurdjieff, the ultimate goal of this work was to achieve a state of “objective consciousness,” where one is fully awake, aware, and connected to the higher dimensions of reality.
This state of being is not something that can be achieved through intellectual understanding alone; it invites a profound transformation of one’s entire being, including the mind, body, and emotions. Embracing the idea that you should not believe everything you think is a crucial first step on this path to higher consciousness.
Final thoughts
"Don't believe everything you think" is not just a psychological tool; it is a profound spiritual teaching that invites us to awaken from the dream of thought and connect with our true nature.
By practicing mindfulness, self-observation, and contemplation, we can begin to see our thoughts for what they are—transient and often misleading mental events. This journey of noticing, questioning, and ultimately transcending our thoughts is a path to both mental clarity and spiritual awakening.
As we navigate this path, we are reminded by teachers like Abdul Baha, Richard Rohr, Gurdjieff, and Eckhart Tolle that our thoughts are not who we are.
We’re invited to let go of our attachment to thoughts and beliefs; we can experience the freedom, peace, and wisdom that come from living in alignment with our true selves. The simple act of remembering "don't believe everything you think" can be a powerful gateway for this transformation.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Brewer, J. A. (2017). The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits. Yale University Press.
Burns, D. D. (1980). Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. William Morrow.
Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191(1), 36-43.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. Hyperion.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Ouspensky, P. D. (1971). In Search of the Miraculous: Fragments of an Unknown Teaching. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Rohr, R. (2011). Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. Jossey-Bass.
Rohr, R. (2016). The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation. Whitaker House.
Tolle, E. (1999). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library.
