All my life I have certainly identified with my thoughts. I identified with them to the point of wondering, if I am not thinking then what am I?
“I think therefore I am.” ~~René Descartes
The above quote came to mind when I was contemplating this. If I have the capacity to think, to wonder, to be inquisitive, then I exist.
But it also seems to imply that if one does not think then one does not exist, making the act of thinking a key characteristic of existence.
But is thinking the most fundamental action of consciousness, of awareness? I am questioning this.
I am wondering if it isn’t focusing.
The quality of your focus and what you focus on determines the thoughts that occur to you, doesn’t it?
You can focus on a friend and memories involving that friend come to mind, things they said or did, etc. Then those thoughts lead to other thoughts. Their love of mythology leads you to thoughts about travelling to Greece or maybe Egypt, which maybe leads you to thought about current events in those countries.
That train of thought began with focus. Focus is what put us on that track.
What if I re-orient myself? If I were identify with my focus and that becomes of highest importance rather than my thoughts, what would my life look like?
How would my perspective change?