How To Stop Thinking So Far Ahead And Catastrophizing?

[The White Belt]

Hi people. 

 

Please excuse my inappropriate display name firstly. It will be changed as soon as the settings will allow me.

 

I have only just begun following 'The Path' and already I am catastrophizing everything.

Some example thoughts; 

- What if I become a danger to people whilst pursuing enlightenment?

- What if perusing enlightenment makes me want to kill myself?

- What if I have a horrible awakening experience?

- What if I go totally insane?

- What if it makes me hate everyone I love, due to their egos?

- What if I see no point in doing anything on 'The Path' and start to get lazy, when some people rely on me

to bring home money (I see this one happening a bit already)?

 

It is very early days, I am still only meditating about 20 minutes per day and I can't stop these thoughts, why is it that people like

Eckhart Tolle describe such a beautiful thing and my mind describes such a horrible thing. Try to give me more to work with than,

'That's your ego' or 'Who is thinking these thoughts?'.

 

Thanks!

 

[Deep]

55 minutes ago, Bigcocks said:

 

I have only just begun following 'The Path' and already I am catastrophizing everything.

Some example thoughts; 

- What if I become a danger to people whilst pursuing enlightenment?

- What if perusing enlightenment makes me want to kill myself?

- What if I have a horrible awakening experience?

- What if I go totally insane?

- What if it makes me hate everyone I love, due to their egos?

- What if I see no point in doing anything on 'The Path' and start to get lazy, when some people rely on me

to bring home money (I see this one happening a bit already)?

 

When you become enlightened, you feel one with everyone else. You see everyone as your Self; not just believe that, but actually feel it in your awareness. That doesn't mean you won't have disagreements. You won't have to think about it too much you'll know. As far as money is concerned, you might stop doing what you don't love. 

[WelcometoReality]

1 hour ago, Bigcocks said:

Hi people. 

 

Please excuse my inappropriate display name firstly. It will be changed as soon as the settings will allow me.

 

I have only just begun following 'The Path' and already I am catastrophizing everything.

Some example thoughts; 

- What if I become a danger to people whilst pursuing enlightenment?

Is that likely? Have I heard anyone else becoming a danger like that?

- What if not perusing enlightenment makes me want to kill myself?

- What if I have a horrible awakening experience?

It could also be totally blissful. Even if I have a horrible awakening I'll see through all the suffering.

- What if I go totally insane?

Although I've heard it's quite good food at the mental institutions.

- What if it makes me hate everyone I love, due to their egos?

Or maybe I'll love them unconditionally for the first time in my life.

- What if I see no point in doing anything on 'The Path' and start to get lazy, when some people rely on me to bring home money (I see this one happening a bit already)?

Maybe this is just a momentary thing.

It is very early days, I am still only meditating about 20 minutes per day and I can't stop these thoughts, why is it that people like

Eckhart Tolle describe such a beautiful thing and my mind describes such a horrible thing. Try to give me more to work with than,

'That's your ego' or 'Who is thinking these thoughts?'.

 

Thanks!

 

You can try to see things in a different perspective than that thought. See the quote for examples. I have had alot of mind activity in the past and started to go for a walk. All the sensory inputs created some distance to all those thoughts and was a great way to get a little perspective.

[The White Belt]

@WelcometoReality @WelcometoReality That was really nice to read, and humorous. Thanks a lot :-)

[WelcometoReality]

6 minutes ago, BeginnerActualizer said:

@WelcometoReality @WelcometoReality That was really nice to read, and humorous. Thanks a lot :-)

I'm glad you liked it and I hope it helps.

[123456789]

2 hours ago, BeginnerActualizer said:

I have only just begun following 'The Path' and already I am catastrophizing everything.

Some example thoughts; 

- What if I become a danger to people whilst pursuing enlightenment?

- What if perusing enlightenment makes me want to kill myself?

- What if I have a horrible awakening experience?

- What if I go totally insane?

- What if it makes me hate everyone I love, due to their egos?

- What if I see no point in doing anything on 'The Path' and start to get lazy, when some people rely on me

to bring home money (I see this one happening a bit already)?

What if NOT?

[Arman]

My suggestion is that these thoughts have roots in emotional imprints. Attempting to manipulate and reason at the thought level is like trying to kill a tree by snipping away at a few of its leaves. They'll just grow again, and in fact it may even promote growth.

When the thoughts arise, instead of noting the thought, note the emotional signature that comes with it. This is the culprit, and it is far more effective to work through the emotional charge (the trunk or roots of the tree) than it is the mind and intellect. 

When the emotional charges are allowed to integrate and release, with them, the thoughts too disappear. 

Understand that catastrophe is not out there, rather there is an experience of emotional catastrophe within that is attempting to keep you safe by creating an endless stream of thought forms. Your job is to recognize that it is misguided, acknowledge it for its innocence and allow the emotions to be there unconditionally. This unravels them, integrates and dissolves. 

The reason Eckhart Tolle describes beautiful experiences, but you are experiencing such 'horrible things' (which by the way, are the grace that allows you to grow) is because he has dissolved much of the internal blocks and emotional charges, which allows for a deepening of experience. It is ok to be where you are, and know that the experience only gets deeper and more radiant as time goes on. As you keep meditating, being aware in day to day experiences and allowing emotional imprints to unravel as they arise, experience gets easier and negative thoughts occur less and less, and eventually, not at all. 

[Bob84]

@BeginnerActualizer Ego A is thinking them, Ego B disagrees, Ego C says you cant predict the future. Your "i" is just looking at them.

 

[The White Belt]

@Bob84 Hahaha. I have egos that stretch all the way to ego 'Z' dude! 

[The White Belt]

14 hours ago, Maorice said:

@BeginnerActualizer yeah, that's typicial monkey mind.

I have heard about a funny little technique today. Everytime your mind is imagining something about the future, comment it with "not sure".

Like it!!