Thought as Principle and Content

This is a chapter in my new book “What If You Already Knew the Answers to Your Questions?” 

This is how a Zoom mentoring call with Nathan started: “Hi Elsie! I’ve been thinking and wondered if you could give me your take. I don’t want to be a bother so you can tell me to buzz off if you’d like. I figured there’s no harm in asking.”

“In 3 Principles understanding, we talk about our experience/feelings always coming from our thoughts, no exceptions. This is a visceral truth for me and what appealed to me about Syd’s teachings. I’ve shared with you before how much this has helped me move past my suffering. I realized I was thinking up my own story, and finally felt free from myself when I had the insight that our thoughts create our feelings.”

Nathan hesitated, then his face lightened. “Of course, I realize that we can have thoughts that bring us good feelings too, but I’m curious what you would say about the peaceful feeling we get when we are present and free of thought? I feel like both are true but also potentially contradict each other? Feeling always comes from thought, right? except when you’re present?”

By this time, Nathan’s eyes were screwed up as he continued to figure this out. “It seems to me that being present brings contentment or neutrality, so I’m pointing to good feeling from presence versus good feeling from thought.

“I notice this the most when I’m fully aware of loud, upsetting thoughts,” Nathan continued, “and I choose not to focus on them, then they slip away, and I’m feeling content. I’m in a state of awareness, looking at my experience of what feels like a wind tunnel between my ears. Utterly no thought… till of course I have a thought about what I’m noticing.

“Oh damm!” Nathan sighed. “I’m trying to explain a feeling, which I know you know can be difficult. And maybe this is the point of nuance where Syd would say I’m thinking too much about it, but it’s something I get curious about, and I’d like to get your take on this, if you’re willing.”

While Nathan had been speaking, a couple of things had occurred to me. “Nathan, you do know the answer. It’s woven throughout your comments. You are trying to figure it out so that’s getting in the way of you “seeing” the answer, hidden in your comments.”

I paused for a moment to let wisdom guide me and help articulate my words. “What jumped out to me, as you were sharing your curiosity and wisdom, is the difference between feeling the power of Thought as a Principle, versus the feeling of thought as content. Feeling the power of Thought just is. Peaceful and neutral, not dependent on anything.”

Once again, I became still, as the words were still coming to me. “The beauty of feeling the content of thought is that you’re more aware of doing something with thought, of focusing on upset or not. In other words, you’re learning that you are creating your reality from the inside-out. That’s deep guidance, learning how to use the power of thought to create a calmer life. Power of Thought and content of thought. Both beautiful.”

There was a reflective silence, as we both slipped deeper into the feeling of what we were learning.

“Is that helpful, Nathan? Do you feel what I’m saying?”

“Thank you, Elsie. That’s clear and beautiful.” Nathan shook his head from side to side as he pondered for a moment.

“Wow, that just sunk in deeper and hit me like a ton of bricks. Incredible. It’s even more simple than I thought. Thank you, Elsie! I feel something has really shifted for me.”