We get streams of thoughts or ideas, especially when free and relax, or when doing a mundane task that doesn’t require a lot of attention (driving, taking a shower, or even getting to sleep).  We sometimes get overwhelmed by those thoughts to a degree we tend to block them for some reasons.  Reasons to block a thought could be very valid actually, but the practice of blocking is what I’m suggesting to change.

Why would I block my thoughts?

Blocking thoughts happens usually due to the fact that you have a rule in your life that dictates rejecting the stream of thoughts you’re getting.  It could also be due to a previous state of decision against that thought.  In both cases, those thoughts are against what you have set yourself up to, and hence you consciously block them.  You may be doing so peacefully telling thoughts to go away, or you may be annoyed as why they are coming back persistently.

Examples would be changing you job, getting married, buying a car or house, or getting some of your savings for that great trip.

What’s the problem then? what is it you’re worried about?

The stream of thoughts is intermittently persistent and usually requires a great deal of effort (mentally and emotionally).  That effort takes something out of you, and will always do as thoughts will find their way back to you!  What I’m saying here is that you’re not helping yourself by blocking thoughts and continuously doing so will get you in a state of increased annoyance.  More importantly, you’re missing the chance to be more adaptive and creative about your life and skipping a window of potentially “good” change!

What are you suggesting then?

A flip in handling your thoughts with minimum efforts possible.  I’m suggesting to stop blocking your thoughts, and instead handle them smoothly by giving them a spin of conscious moment and letting go afterwards.  If they come back again, give them another spin and let go.  If they persist, give them a final spin and let go, but consider them for a serious talk with yourself and revisit why you don’t want them coming.  That’s the window of potential change that could be for your own good.  I’m not suggesting three and only three times of spin thoughts.  I’m just emphasizing the fact of giving your thoughts several shots of what they deserve!

I really don’t get it, can you give me an example?

Sure, I will give you an example from your work life.  If you happen to be like me, then you must have gone through time in your life trying to figure out what is your passion and what you like to do for living that will keep your energy to its optimum throughout the good and bad.  If you have done so, then you surely have set career goals that align with your strengths and weaknesses, and consider opportunities and threats in your field (SWOT).  With those career goals in mind, you’ll have a different perspective at the job opportunities that goes by and you’ll have firm rules of what to consider or reject.  Then, the state I’m referring to goes like this: you get a job opportunity, it gets underway those goals of your career aspiration, and they get blocked if they don’t pass.  Hence, a thought and a block process.  If you continue doing so, that may get you in an uncomfortable state of decision making especially with the fact those thoughts will come back again and again.

What if I apply what you’re suggesting?

Ok, as I said, instead of blocking, you’ll give the idea of changing job a spin of thought and will let go.  That spin of thought will give you a chance to revisit your rules and the goals and rational behind them.  After all, your rules are not universal and your goals always have space of improvement.  With a quick spin of consideration, you’ll:

1. Avoid the demanding state of the thought –> relief.
2. Get a chance to review your career aspiration, and realign your goals –> validation checkpoint.

This will repeat for a while until the thought goes away and stop persisting, or until it finds its impact on your rules of life, and hopefully positively.  The whole idea is not to miss those great windows of potential “good” change and hence be agile consistently.  Notice, however, that I said “good” change, as some changes could be disastrous if not aligned with proper rational and morals.

Also, make sure you don’t make major decisions or corrections in those short revisits (what I call spins).  You need to let go and wait for the thought to knock the door again.  The final spin of your choice should get you in a serious discussion and validation where you can make the minor or major corrections (change) if required.

In summary

My advice to you is to set and respect rules in your life, but at the same time allow to validate them.  This happens by giving the other thoughts a spin, which will enable you to change for good and be agile!