Today I want to take this concept one step further.
Because when you start observing your thoughts, something interesting appears. You notice that your mind is constantly telling stories.
I have just finished a session with a client, and we discussed this exact model. I asked her if she wanted to believe all the stories that her mind was creating or step back into the present.
When we are fully present in the moment, life feels very satisfying 😍
Your brain’s job is to keep you safe. To do that, it constantly interprets what’s happening around you. I often refer to our brain as a problem-solving machine. So, when something happens, your mind quickly fills in the gaps with a story, often looking for familiar patterns from the past.
For example:
A friend doesn’t reply to a message.
Your mind might say:
“They must be upset with me.”
“I’ve said something wrong.”
“They don’t value our friendship.”
But those are not facts. They’re interpretations. They are simply your brain making up stories.
Your brain’s job is to keep you safe. To do that, it constantly interprets what’s happening around you. I often refer to our brain as a problem-solving machine. So, when something happens, your mind quickly fills in the gaps with a story, often looking for familiar patterns from the past.
Why This Matters
When we believe the story immediately, our nervous system reacts. A thought creates a feeling. The feeling drives our behaviour. And suddenly we’re responding to a story rather than the situation itself. This is where the observer mind becomes powerful 💪
Instead of automatically believing the thought, you can gently ask this question: “What story is my mind telling me right now?”
👉 That one question can bring enormous relief.
A Simple Practice for you to practice:
Next time you feel stressed, annoyed or upset, pause and ask:
What actually happened? (Just the facts.)
What story is my mind telling me about it?
Is there another possible explanation?
This doesn’t mean dismissing your feelings. It simply creates space between you and the story.
And that space is where calm and clarity begin. By creating that space, you are able to question what story your mind is telling you 💚
Our minds will always create stories. That’s a normal part of being human. The skill is learning to notice the stories with curiosity and compassion rather than immediately believing every one of these thoughts.
Because the moment you can observe the story…you have the freedom to choose how you respond.
