How can meditation help us wisely manage thoughts that pop up unexpectedly, regardless of intention?
The first step is accepting each arising thought as it is, without attaching personal opinions or interpretations.
Thoughts naturally come and go in response to situations and conditions.
Just watch the arising thought from a distance.
When emotions tied to these thoughts arise, acknowledge them as well, simply noting their presence.
If you’re tempted to delve into the meaning behind your thoughts, gently remind yourself, ‘I am experiencing these thoughts right now.’
With this, you may notice that thoughts often appear without any clear reason and fade away just as easily, much like changing weather, uninfluenced by our intentions or will.
In this way, we practice accepting the natural rise and fall of thoughts in their constant flux.
This approach may ease the overall mental load created by excessive thoughts and reduce the mental distress that comes with them.
(Continued in Part 3)