Hello,
Welcome to this insight.
My name is Pablo Arellano and I am delighted to have you here today.
Together we'll explore a simple yet powerful approach to understanding how the mind works and how we can cultivate greater awareness of our thought processes.
Often,
We find ourselves caught up in an endless stream of thoughts,
Replaying the past or worrying about the future,
Rarely taking a moment to fully anchor ourselves in the present.
This tendency to drift away from the present moment can create stress and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of life.
When we recognize that there is space between thoughts,
We can begin to access a sense of calm and clarity that may otherwise be obscured.
Let's begin by practicing this together.
I invite you to count your thoughts as they arise.
For example,
If you hear a sound outside,
That's one thought.
If you notice yourself thinking about the sound,
That's two thoughts.
If you hear my voice and reflect on what I'm saying,
That becomes the third thought.
It's a gentle process,
Not about control,
But simply observing what comes up in the mind.
I'm going to play some soft music for about a minute and a half,
Allowing you the time to count your thoughts.
As you do this,
Gently close your eyes and simply notice what arises.
When the time is up,
I'll guide you to open your eyes and we'll continue our exploration together.
So please relax,
Settle into a comfortable position,
And let's begin.
Hello,
You can slowly open your eyes now.
How many thoughts did you notice?
It doesn't matter whether the number was high or low.
What matters is that this exercise brought awareness to the flow of your thoughts.
By counting them,
You've taken the first step toward understanding your mental patterns and creating space to observe them more clearly.
Let's build on this with a second exercise.
This time,
Instead of counting your thoughts,
Simply observe them.
Allow them to come and go without attaching judgment or labels.
Imagine you are sitting by a river,
Watching the thoughts drift by like leaves on the water.
You don't need to follow them or interact,
Just notice.
I'll guide you as before.
Close your eyes on the count of three and we'll begin.
One,
Two,
Three.
You may start.
You can now gently open your eyes.
Were you able to observe your thoughts without counting them?
This practice helps cultivate a sense of detachment from the constant stream of thinking,
Allowing you to simply witness your mental activity without being swept away by it.
Observing thoughts in this way is an essential step toward developing mindfulness and a deeper connection to the present moment.
Now let's try a third exercise.
This time,
We'll introduce a simple mantra into the practice.
The mantra is,
I am aware.
We will use this phrase to gently anchor ourselves as we observe our thoughts.
Say the mantra silently to yourself,
Then allow a little time to pass before repeating it.
The mantra creates a rhythm,
A subtle reminder of your awareness as you observe the mind's activity.
It's very simple,
Yet incredibly powerful in grounding your focus.
Get comfortable again,
Close your eyes,
And let's begin.
Slowly,
You can open your eyes once more.
How did that feel?
Were you able to notice your thoughts while staying connected to the mantra?
Did you sense a shift in your awareness?
This practice of combining a mantra with observation can bring greater clarity and calmness to your day-to-day experience.
I encourage you to use this mantra throughout your day,
Even with your eyes open.
As you go about your routine,
Simply pause occasionally and say,
I am aware.
Let it gently bring you back to the present moment and deepen your awareness of your thoughts.
Thank you for joining me in this exploration of the mind and the space between thoughts.
I send you many blessings and look forward to connecting with you again soon.
