Something I've been pondering lately.

[meb21]

"Thoughts are only thoughts, and can't hurt anyone unless you act on them."

versus

"Thoughts are things and create our reality the more you think them."

Discuss.

Comments

[fourjacks]

Based on my experience, I'd say the latter.

[meb21]

It's confusing to me, because my spiritual training says the latter as well. However, my contacts in the mental health/cognitive therapy field say that we're entitled to our private thoughts, and that it's ok to have them, and we're not hurting anyone else by having thoughts. I'm talking about fantasies or revenge and the like.

[fourjacks]

**edited for typo***

"Confusing, it is," (as Yoda would say.)

I think from a mental health perspective, you don't want to beat up patients for having particular thoughts (or encourage them to beat themselves up) as this just creates more negative thoughts. Bad cycle.

If you fantasize briefly about running that idiot off the road (the one who just cut you off in his red BMW, the SOB) then I'd say, sure no prob.

But if you get into nurturing revenge fantasies, fixating on them and suckling them at night, then they'll eventually grow into monsters that will poison your spirit.

And if you're fixated enough and out of control enough, then you might start acting on them and then your "thoughts" have manifested in the real world and really could hurt somebody besides you.

So it's all a question of degree. When I catch myself having negative thoughts, I don't stick my head in the microwave. But I say, "Whoa, I'm having negative thoughts here. Better cut it out."

[nsingman]

This one isn't even close. Of course thoughts are only thoughts, and no thought, per se, has ever helped or harmed anyone. Only when thoughts are put into action can they help or harm.