Thank God It's a Thought

The Beauty of a Morning Ride

I inhale the breeze and the faint fragrance of flowers that have carpeted the road. The Bougainvillea have decided to open fully to show their flowers, not just their colourful leaves. The river is dancing in the wind too, just like my hair, my dress, and my heart. My body is thanking me for getting out of bed and going on my bicycle, and I thank it back.

A peaceful bicycle ride amidst vibrant bougainvillea amidst the city backdrop

The Hijack

All of a sudden, I am kidnapped back to a few years ago. To a familiar place, in a fight that caused a lot of pain. There are arguments back and forth, and now I think of better comebacks that give me a lot of satisfaction. I am finally about to win in this mental narrative.

And snap. I notice the Bougainvillea again, and there is a hint of remorse. But mostly, it’s a feeling of relief. My body kept cycling on autopilot, my eyes kept looking, and my nose kept inhaling. And yet, my mind was in a different world, stuck in its own cycle of overthinking.

Thank God, It’s a Thought

I remember I used to get hijacked by my thoughts several years ago. I used to believe these narratives so fully that my body would fill with stress hormones. The overthinking kept feeding the emotion in a seemingly endless loop.

These days, when a “thought hijack” happens, oftentimes there is another thought. Perhaps it’s an inner voice born from mindfulness that says: “Thank God, It’s (Just) a Thought” (TGIT).

TGIT is a shortcut that happened to me after I immersed myself in The Work of Byron Katie. It has become internalized now. It isn't just a mantra I practice saying; it follows another voice that usually asks, “Who would you be without your story?” And just like that, I am transported back from hell to the sheer kindness of reality.

I wish I were that wise every time though :) When I do get carried away by my thoughts and act them out, I bring those thoughts to The Work—the most consistent and reliable way I know today - to come home to peace.

Just one of the glorious glimpse of heaven on my morning ride, untill.. well my thoughts kick me out :)

Finding Peace Through Self-Inquiry

I used to rely on the calendar for that peace. I would rejoice before Fridays, vacations, and special occasions. Now I know better. Friday does not assure fun if I continue to get yanked around by my thoughts. And any day can be fun as I become mindful of my thoughts and understand what to do with them.

Like Byron Katie asks, “If you are in heaven, and you continue to believe the thoughts that you believe, where would you be? Ans: In Earth school :)”

A lot more happens when we commit to this practice of self-inquiry. I’ve compiled a list of actual thoughts that my clients and I found freedom from. Do any of these look familiar to you?

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Ready to find your own peace? If you want to “Taste the Work” for yourself, book a 45-minute FREE call here: https://www.aumcoming.com/services

My cycle parked as I rest during my tranquil bicycle ride