Reflections often sneak up on us in the smallest, most mundane moments. One day, I found myself thinking about thoughts—an odd but familiar topic—when a cartoon illustration popped into my mind. You know the ones: characters with little bubbles or clouds above their heads, revealing their inner dialogue. Those thought bubbles make the characters come alive, offering insight to anyone watching.
But what if we looked at our own thoughts in the same way? Could they offer us fresh insights, too?
When I think of bubbles or clouds, I imagine something light and weightless, drifting effortlessly through the air. Does that mean the thoughts inside our bubbles are just as airy, just as inconsequential? Not exactly.
What fascinates me about thoughts and thinking is how personal they feel—and yet, how universal they are. For the longest time, I assumed everyone was a deep thinker, constantly replaying experiences, revisiting decisions, and questioning the meaning of things. But when I paid closer attention, I noticed that wasn’t true for everyone. Some people make a decision and simply move on. They don’t relive the past or overanalyze the future. They just are.
Is their thought bubble empty? Or maybe, just maybe, not everything has to mean something. Perhaps we’re meant to enjoy each moment for what it is, no more, no less.
That’s why so many inspirational quotes emphasize the present moment. Of course, staying present is easier said than done. Thoughts—whether joyful and light or heavy and dark—seem to demand our attention. But here’s the thing: they are thoughts. And thoughts can change.
I’ve started experimenting with this idea. When an unwanted thought lingers, I don’t fight it. I let it be and then let it go. It’s not always easy, but the more I practice, the more I realize something profound: I am not my thoughts.
Once that truly clicked, everything shifted. It felt like pulling back a thin veil to reveal a new layer of life—one that was always there but somehow unseen. The same people, the same circumstances, seemed different.
What are thoughts, really, but transient bursts of energy? They drift in, they drift out. They ignite joy or stir up shadows, but at their core, they hold no inherent power. Unless we give it to them.
And so, the journey continues.