Achieving peace of mind

We have no control over what comes up in our mind. None. This much should be clear to anyone who has ever tried to meditate – or even anyone who has ever had a song stuck in their head for a while. But this is not all bad. For example, there can be immense joy in just sitting down and watching with fascination what thoughts come up for us. In fact, this is how most artists work! It’s what we call inspiration. They have developed the gift and talent of being able to observe their thoughts and recognize the ones that truly resonate with them, bring them joy, and capture their imagination. And they don’t even control what they resonate with – or why. It just happens. It’s just the way it is. It’s all very mysterious.

So why do we act like we do have control over the content of our mind, and feel guilty for what it thinks and does? Not only will this not help us, but it will agitate our minds more, thus creating more and more thoughts we don’t like.

Stop struggling, just for a moment. Let your mind think whatever it wants to think and see that it has nothing to do with you. It’s just what it does. You cannot stop it. Thoughts keep coming like waves, but like waves they also vanish. The ocean is not affected in the least. Once you feel free to have thoughts coming up without feeling that they’re defining you in any way, a sense of incredible peace will wash over you. Your mind has not changed. You will have realized that you are not your mind.

Source: Mindfulness Exercises