“The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.” ~Eric Hoffer
Sometimes, the endless nature of “thinking” can feel like a burdening weight upon our minds and our souls; a constant stream of consciousness that never ceases and from which we can never escape.
However, when we hone the ability to take note of and understand what we are thinking and why — a practice that New Age author Eckhart Tolle calls, “observing the thinker” — we begin to realize that our thoughts about others provide us with a perfect reflection of how we feel about ourselves.
By observing the thinker and noting how we innately refer to, perceive, and treat others around us, we nurture a better sense of how we subconsciously feel about ourselves. The practice can not only help us treat others the way we wish to be treated, but also help us foster a state of inner peace and tranquility that alleviates that burdening feeling of the endless nature of thinking.
Our Thoughts are a Mirror
Our thoughts are a perfect reflection of our state of mind and how we feel about ourselves on the inside. Resentment towards another, such as an ex-, reveals a resentment of ourselves: we resent how we allowed ourselves to be deceived, hurt or heartbroken. Anger towards another, like a rival or business opponent, is derived from anger with ourselves: rooted in jealousy, fear, and a sense of insecurity with who we are, questioning our ability to aptly compete.
Our thoughts reflect perfectly like a mirror to reveal the inner workings of ourselves; the subconscious perceptions that we hold about our individual senses of Self and all of those around us. The mirror-like nature of our thinking is not only beneficial insofar as it reveals how we really feel on the inside; it also allows us to become more self-aware and introspective.
It is a gift, indeed, because understanding our thought-processes and how they reflect our individual understandings of who we are on in the inside provides the unique opportunity to become better people. Ultimately, we can diffuse inner conflict and confusion and become pacifists of the mind.
A Reflection of Ourselves
What do your most personal and sincere thoughts reveal about how you feel about yourself? Does hatred or resentment grip your mind? It may be a reflection of how you are holding onto hate or resentment of yourself. Do you fear all that which you cannot control? It may be a reflection of your insecurity and distrust of yourself. Conversely, ask, Do you trust others? You will if you trust yourself. Do you love others? You will if you love yourself.
The fact that our thoughts reflect like a mirror upon our subconscious understandings and feelings about ourselves can initially feel quite terrifying. Sometimes feelings exist that we had no idea were present within us. Even still, the way that our thoughts and feelings about others reveals so much about ourselves can be truly beneficial.
You know how you look in the mirror before you leave your home in the morning, just to make sure everything looks right and in place? Pause for a moment and look within the reflection of your thoughts and actions; check to ensure everything is right and in its place. If it’s not, simply change your thoughts about yourself; strive to ensure that the reflection of your thoughts is a reflection of the “you” on the inside.
[fblike]
[viddler id=52875d1&w=545&h=349]
