Smiling

Usually we are unaware of how deeply we can be absorbed by our thoughts. We drift along in our mind, largely

unaware of our environment and only vaguely noticing where we are. Almost naturally we drift from one thought to the next, without a start or ending.

These thoughts and ideas however are often quite unfriendly, they can even keep us from sleeping,

prevent us to let go of troubles or sorrows. Thoughts are compulsive, only stopping when we are

overly tired. Sometimes they concern practical subjects, building a shed for instance. Uncertain of how to proceed we search our mind for solutions to the technical issues. In our head we build the shed over and over again.

At other times we simply make things up. By doing so we consciously choose to abandon reality. In these fantasies we often play a leading role, putting ourselves in a very favourable position. The thoughts can become so intense that we actually bond with them.

Our wish for something or someone can be so strong that we connect with it in our mind.

We fantasise how it will be, beautifying as we go along. As a result bare reality becomes a terrible disappointment.

By becoming absorbed in a fantasy state of mind we lose contact with everyday reality. Our eyes, ears and the rest of our senses no longer function properly, we lose contact with our body. Absent from both the here and the now our consciousness narrows down to mere compulsive ideas.

Once we realize we are ensnared in a fantasy world we can return to the reality of life. This may be difficult, the

habit of being absorbed in thoughts is very powerful. There is a good chance that disengaging will be a struggle without success. We may even discover the impossibility of repressing our flow of thoughts. After losing the fight of disentanglement it is easy and comfortable to fall into old habits.

We can handle this differently though, we can be more friendly and less forceful with ourselves. Instead of trying to suppress our continuous string of thoughts we can leave them for what they are, bring our attention towards our breathing and renew contact with our body. Our senses will start functioning again. Once again we encounter

ourselves, our body as well as the world around us. Of course new thoughts will arise but we can avoid being ruled by them. We can observe them; their arrival, their presence and their disappearance. We can observe them with a smile on our face, no longer reigned by thoughts that still occur.

We can maintain the smile while noticing how once again we become absorbed by thoughts. Disapproval is useless. It is as it is. We can always start practising anew, returning to the broad and expansive world full of encounters and experiences.