Trapped in thoughts? Are you caught in the "thought carousel"? Constantly brooding, "what if"? Have I done something "wrong"? Is it "up to me"? NO Self-criticism is important, but too much of it will lead to depression. It is always important to question why this thought arises in us right now, what brought us to brooding in the first place, was there a reason for it (and if so, what was it), does brooding have a benefit, how do we feel while we are brooding, what feelings do we experience? Brooding is always a sign that we are too busy "with ourselves". And in a wrong way "dealing with ourselves", because instead of worrying about "what if", we should center our mental capacities on questions like "who am I", and "what results from this". Of course, it also helps to distract ourselves first, to clear our minds for "new things". Here it can help to listen to music, to read a book, or to go for a walk. However, we should become really free in the head, otherwise even distractions do not really bring an improvement. What helps us permanently, however, is to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. First of all, we should realize that we can do NOTHING about the past, brooding over it will bring NOTHING. We should make peace with ourselves and our past, everything is good as it is, according to Buddha everything was predetermined anyway, came as it had to come, therefore we are WITHOUT GUILT. Because if our destiny was already written, then we had to act as we have acted, we had no choice in the consequence. From this insight of Buddha we can draw deep comfort, come clean with our past, rest in ourselves for the future, we can therefore stop brooding now. If we make wiser decisions from NOW on, then after our destiny is already determined (whatever wiser may be). Many advisors want to explain to us that we should "think positive", but from my point of view this is completely meaningless. What is "positive", what is "negative"? It will only help us if we put something "positive" in the place of brooding. Buddha has exemplified to us the "enlightenment" that MUST take the place of brooding. Readers of this blog know that, in my view, Buddhist teachings revolve around only one subject, "enlightenment", the attainment of insight, "awakening". EVERY DAY IS A LITTLE LIFE - EVERY WAKING AND RISING IS A LITTLE BIRTH, EVERY FRESH MORNING IS A LITTLE YOUTH, AND EVERY GOING TO BED AND FALLING ASLEEP IS A LITTLE DEATH. - ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER - GERMAN PHILOSOPHER - 1788 TO 1860 As described in this quotation of Arthur Schopenhauer we can start completely NEW every day of our life, everything has come as it had to come, what will be tomorrow is also already written, then our karma will bring us tomorrow the possibility to at least think about the "enlightenment"! Anyway, we are without GUILT, we don't have to brood any more, we can get out of the "thought carousel" with the help of the teacher of all teachers. If we only want it! Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de (Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores) Please rate us on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcast to help us promote the show