We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far. – Swami Vivekananda

A while ago, I was catching a movie with an old friend. The movie was an interesting one but not mainstream, which explained the many empty rows. Besides, only movie buffs would watch one at 10 in the morning on a weekend.

The film was based on a classic novel set in nineteenth century America and followed the lives and loves of a family. The strong script, lovely costumes, music, and great actors had me hooked. I was immersed in the story. I laughed at all the little things that brought joy and meaning to their lives. I applauded their achievements. When they failed at something, I felt bad for them.

Until I was forced to listen to the small pesky voice inside my head nagging me. ‘Aren’t your thoughts like this movie? A continuous chatter you’re immersed in and swept in any direction they take you? Shouldn’t you be making your thoughts follow your instructions instead?’

I became aware of my environment immediately. I was sitting in a dark movie hall, watching moving shadows—entertaining ones—but moving shadows nevertheless. My friend was sitting next to me and experiencing the movie in a way that I never would. We might both love the movie, but we would each interpret it in different ways. Others, scattered across the movie hall, were having their own immersive experiences.

The moment this awareness crept in, the movie ceased to have any power over me. For a minute or two, I observed it, aware that it was only a movie and that I could walk out anytime I wanted to. It wasn’t reality. Very soon, though, that awareness ceased. I slipped back to my earlier mode and became absorbed in the movie.

A few minutes later, I made myself aware of my environment again. The movie continued, but the way I perceived it was different. I was observing and watching the movie in a conscious way, knowing I had the option of leaving at any time. In this case, I chose not to, because it was a pleasant and positive experience. It felt good knowing that I was empowered to quit if I wanted to. It was fascinating to observe my thoughts as if they were a different entity without impeding their flow or judging myself.

The chatter in our heads is like that movie. It never seems to stop however hard we try. We feel forced to follow it in any direction it chooses to lead us. We spend tremendous energy on thoughts about the past or fearing the unknown future. We feel helpless. But the moment we step back and observe our thoughts, we realize how detrimental this chatter is to our growth. How many of us recognize that it is within our power to steer our thoughts in the direction we choose to? As Buddha said, “We are shaped by our thoughts. We become what we think.”

The next time my thoughts took me down some weird, unproductive path, I was prepared. I likened the chatter to a movie running inside my head. Except the script was awful and it was an endless story. I would never have sat through a movie like that. Yet I was running multiple bad movies in my head every day of my life. I paused, observed my thoughts, and gently steered them back to the present. The sense of relief was immense, knowing that my thoughts could not toss me around. The chatter inside my head continues, but it is far calmer now. Knowing that I can soothe it and make it work for me is empowering.

“Your thoughts and emotions are the drama that you create in your mind. You must be able to direct it as you wish.” – Sadhguru