We often forget that thoughts are actually measurable “things.” They rise up out of the “darkness” of the subconscious mind and into the “light” of the conscious mind. How we perceive our thoughts is what creates our feelings and emotions. When thoughts rise up and create emotions, we are triggered to use words and actions as a way of expressing them. Sometimes it’s words or just body language. Either way, our thoughts become measurable words and actions, and all of the actions and choices we choose make up who we are. We actually become our thoughts!
It may take a while before our thoughts become notable action. We may think about something several times before we act on the emotion we feel from them. Depending on the frequency of our thoughts, and whether they are happier or sadder in nature, our body will eventually dictate that particular quality. Again, it could be through body language, words, and the choices we make therein.
We’ve all met people who are “kind of angry” or “kind of a downer". But we’ve also observed people who are “very happy” or perhaps “inspiring!” When we see these qualities in others we are seeing their thoughts playing out as actions. They exude a type of energy that gives us perspective into who they are and which of their own thoughts they have become.
Now, sometimes people will act out an emotion that isn’t necessarily honest. For example, someone could smile a lot and seem happy who may actually be depressed or suffering from anxiety. A keen eye can see through this performance. More often, people will just “wear their feelings on their sleeves” and if we’re willing to observe these actions we can learn a lot from them.
Each of us is displaying, honestly or not, our emotions through a pattern that has been programmed into our minds from a very young age. Whether good or bad, we have been somewhat programmed to think a certain way and act in a certain way that may not be particularly in line with our own personal values. But we still do it. Maybe it’s to please others or because we fear what others might think about us if we think or act differently.
Through all of this, we are becoming somebody, even something. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration that we really are becoming our thoughts. If your thoughts are creating from a more fear-based reaction. (anger, sadness, and depression) then you are most likely acting those feelings out in your own life. The same goes for if you’re feeling happy, excited, or content. Again, thoughts create feelings, which turn into words and actions, and you exude them.
It’s important to note that the emotions that arise from thoughts are manageable, thankfully. It’s not always easy to manage our thought process or the behavioral patterns that we’ve built up around this process, because it’s very much automated. A good goal would be to ensure that your automated thoughts, which are becoming actions, are of higher quality such as happiness. This is, in fact, possible to change our patterns.
Now, as a society, our thinking is called collective thought. This could be a nation, a state, a city, or a family. It’s common to see differences but ultimately the collective thought is that which is most common among the group. But we are all responsible for our own thoughts and behaviors that we act out. If we are not careful, sometimes we’ll come face-to-face with the consequences of our actions because we attract people, places, and things that resonate and energetically vibrate at that same quality of thinking, feeling, and action. As they say, birds of a feather flock together.
If you don’t know or haven’t experienced the truth of yourself, meaning you haven’t fully aligned with what you truly value or that which brings you joy, or if you haven’t experienced your life with more levity and more peace, it’s often because you challenged with choosing things (thoughts, feelings, and actions) that make you happy. If this is the case, then you are probably feeling a lot of emotions that stem from allowing your subconscious mind to essentially “spew out” automated patterns that have been ingrained into your mind and heart. Essentially, you are challenged with aligning with your own truth.
Therefore, pay attention to the things you are thinking about and question them. Ask yourself if you really believe in the things you are thinking. Are they your own thoughts or were they influenced by those around you? When you pay attention to the feelings that arise from your thoughts, even just a little bit, you’ll begin to see patterns of behavior that don’t necessarily allow you to feel how you want to feel. They just don’t align with what makes you happy.
For example, if you always valued and dreamed of being a craftsman, building furniture, and such things, but you decide that your parents request for you to get a higher education and become a lawyer is more important at the time, you might find that your need for creativity is greater than your desire to become a lawyer, and slowly that could “eat away at you” and make you feel a sense of regret or depression because you did it for your parents and not for yourself. Anytime we choose to do anything for others instead of ourselves we lose a sense of who we are and we become what we don’t want to be. It’s a very painful (emotional) and common (programmed) outcome in our modern society.
The more you pay attention, the more you’ll be able to control which feelings arise from your thoughts. You’ll see patterns where you may get mad, but then realize that it’s your choice to be angry about anything. You can choose to be happier, perhaps more understanding of the situation. When you pause for a moment in the heat of the situation, you have a chance to control your thoughts and actions. The more you identify with thoughts and feelings that are pulling you away from a more true and more conscious understanding of yourself or the situation, the more levity and enlightenment you will experience. It will be incremental, and it will usually start off small. But in time, you’ll be to look back and appreciate more of who you have become. Hopefully, it’s the best “version” of yourself, one that you and others can love the most.