I cannot necessarily “choose my thoughts.” My thoughts just happen. It is the output of my brain. That is what my brain does, it thinks “thoughts.” I don’t have control over that, or even what the thoughts are. I am not my thoughts. I am the one noticing my thoughts and choosing whether to dwell upon them or not.

I heard a wise man once say that my brain is like a public garbage can, anyone or anything can randomly toss something into it (via my interaction with them), and suddenly my brain will start outputting thoughts regarding whatever that something is.

Who “I am” is the one noticing those thoughts, deciding whether the thoughts are “true” or “false”, and whether or not I choose to dwell on them or not.

I’m not responsible for my first thought. That’s just someone tossing something in the garbage can. I’m not even fully responsible for my second thought. That’s just me examining the first thought for clarification. I am, however, responsible for the third thought and any thought after that, because now I have chosen to dwell on such thoughts.

I catch myself doing so, and then choose to refocus my attention on the air going in and out of my lungs for a few moments.

I’m in charge of that.

My brain doesn’t stop “thinking” when I’m asleep, by the way. That’s why dreams are so weird. “I” am off duty, and not present to say “That’s not true! I can’t fly!”

That’s just what I think.

Thanks for reading.