The Courage to Stop Negative Thinking and Gossip
Making Meaning of the Message
How many times have we allowed our mind to literally run away with us and let all those negative thoughts take us over? Before making the practice of presence primary in my life, it must have happened to me a thousand times. And the worst part is, we don’t know how it happens. It all begins in our unobserved mind because we are not in touch with how we feel inside. When I first started practicing presence, I can remember getting the feeling that if I stopped thinking, I was going to miss something—and I was right. What I was going to miss was all the misery I cause myself through all the compulsive and repetitive negative thinking I was doing when I was in an unconscious state. The practice of presence stops that negative cycle by making us aware of how our negative thinking may be playing out in our external world, such as when we gossip, which often creates turmoil all around us and creates a barrier to peace. The practice of presence also makes us aware of the unease building up inside, which often leads to inner chaos. Through the practice of consciously breathing throughout the day we bring ourselves back to the present moment, the only reality there is. And we then realize we have a choice. When we are in an unconscious state, living through memory or anticipation, that is a false reality we have created in our mind. In that state we do not realize we have a choice. That is how the practice of presence teaches us. As Eckhart Tolle says, it is a terrible affliction not to be able to stop our mind from thinking. The practice of presence gives us that choice.
Set the Intention
God, when I feel like I don’t want to stop thinking, let me realize that is the most important time to stop thinking.
Practice Presence
Bring in stillness and ask yourself the three questions to gauge your progress:
Am I present now?
How do I feel inside?
Do I have a sense of peace within at some level?
See pages 10–11 of Choosing Presence for the details of this exercise or use the Practicing Presence—A Christian Way app to help you remember to take three conscious breaths or more every hour, to access God’s spiritual energy.
*Heaney, Jim. “The Courage to Stop Negative Thinking and Gossip.” Choosing Presence, Turning Stone Press, 2020, pp. 69-86. [Adapted with permission.]
