Where Modern Stress Comes From

Stress

I think it’s safe to say that for most (if not all) of us, we experience a great deal of stress throughout the day. I think it’s also safe to say that for most (if not all) of us, much of that stress is a result of an unconscious use of our attention.

We get so lost in thought that we come to believe we are our thoughts. We identify with this thinking mind that is constantly in search of problems to be solved, that is always looking ahead or behind to flee from the present moment.

An important distinction must be made:

The external material circumstances which are the subject of our stress – the mortgage, our kids, our professional life – are all validly calling out for our attention. But while these seem to be “what” is stressing us, I posit that the MAJORITY of our discomfort that we experience moment to moment is a result of the THOUGHTS about these events, rather than the events themselves.

The River of Thought

I have come to view the thinking mind as a River of thought, running through the top of my head. It seems to flow from behind me forward to the forefront of consciousness.

For me, I experience this as something just above my assemblage point (the observer, this sensation of being me) and it flows with endless rapidity, thought after thought, unbroken, in the same way the water of a river flows downstream.

I experience this as something at the top of my head, or above me, toward which my attention is often directed.

First Mental Health Hack: By observing this river of thought, this means that I am something other than my thought. This means that, relative to subjective awareness, I am not my thoughts. I observe my thoughts. THIS IS GOOD NEWS!

This distinction is the bridge to mitigate unnecessary stress.

Most of My Stress: Much of my stress comes from getting lost in the river of thought. My attention unknowingly creeps up into the river, and I get stuck. I think the thoughts are me. I think the thoughts are all valid and real. I stop experiencing the present moment, and rather experience my thoughts about the present moment.

Here's the problem: Even if you are one of the rare few who has a pleasant river of thoughts (which for most of us is not the case), that river of thoughts is still removed from the immediate experience of Being and is a source of discomfort, distraction, and suffering.

The thinking mind is this odd amalgam of regrets of the past, worries for the future, tainted with the underlying neurosis and insecurities unique to us. All of this makes for awful entertainment.

The Beginning of the solution: I am going to spend the next month or two addressing what I do, with my attention, with my mindfulness practice, to mitigate the natural inclination to identify with my thoughts which causes so much mental suffering.

We’ve already begun this through the simple and profound understanding that in observing our thoughts, in creating a space in which this is possible, we are no longer identifying with our thoughts. We are now the OBSERVER of our thoughts.

This means we will no longer unconsciously identify with them, losing hold of the seat of our attention as it gets lost in the white-water rapids of this river of thought.

This is a wonderful gift we give ourselves.

Call to Action:

Throughout the next week, notice when you get lost in thought. Don’t judge it. Don’t criticize yourself. Just notice it.

There will be endless opportunities to return to awareness from getting lost in this river. Each time you notice is like a rep in the gym. We are going to begin building the muscle of awareness, and slowly chipping away at this identification with thought.

This is the beginning of the cessation of much of our stress. This is the beginning of a beautiful experience of being you.

For a guided meditation that will help with this process, see the following from Ram Dass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIObf54225c

Practice this all week, and next week, we will dive deeper together!