….
Sorry it’s hard to get these concepts across and I’m not sure this is going to make sense. I’m also probably full of crap. But here we go
“Become the observer of your thoughts not the thinker of your thoughts.”
For me this is the essential message of meditation. It’s far more complicated and complex but I feel this sums up the essence well.
The part of you that questions why you beat yourself up over things. That part of you is what I call the observer. It’s trying to tell you to stop overthinking and start observing.
I used to get trapped in my thoughts and would worry about the future or regret the past constantly. Easy to get depressed and feel low when your helping yourself feel that way.
When I learned to meditate I learned to observe my thoughts. I started to see them for what they were. It is just our brains trying to make sense of things.
The problem is that when you actively think about something you experience the emotions connected with the thoughts, not just the thoughts.
It’s the emotions causing the anxiety, fear and also the happiness.
Observing your thoughts gives you insight and influence of your thoughts I guess is the best way I can put it.