{"id":9113,"date":"2025-05-30T13:40:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T13:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinews.es\/?p=9113"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:49:12","slug":"do-you-think-you-control-your-mind-lets-try-an-experiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinews.es\/en\/crees-que-controlas-tu-mente-te-propongo-un-experimento\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Think You Control Your Mind? Let\u2019s Try an Experiment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/span><\/h3><\/div>
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This article explores our relationship with thoughts and how difficult it is to control them. Through examples and metaphors, it explains why avoiding uncomfortable thoughts increases distress and how acceptance can lead to a healthier mental relationship.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

What would you think if I told you that it\u2019s estimated that a person can have around 60,000 thoughts in a single day? Would you believe it? Does it seem like a lot to you? Too little? How do you relate to your thoughts? Are you constantly ruminating over the same thing?<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have all the answers, I invite you to keep reading \u2014 I hope that after this article, you\u2019ll have a better understanding of what a thought really is. To better grasp the power our thoughts have over us, I propose we carry out a small experiment.<\/p>\n<\/div>

The Power of the Pink Elephant<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Let\u2019s start with an exercise. I’m going to ask you NOT TO THINK ABOUT A PINK ELEPHANT.<\/strong> For the next few seconds, try to focus on not thinking about a pink elephant. I dare to guess that two possible scenarios may have occurred. In one of them, as soon as you read \u201cpink elephant,\u201d even though the instruction was not to think about it, you couldn’t help but picture the elephant in your mind. Likely, the image popped up involuntarily.<\/p>\n

Perhaps, after this first appearance, you tried to control it and push the thought away \u2014 scenario number two. However, was it easy to control it? Maybe you got distracted or focused on something else. Still, I\u2019d bet that once you stop trying, the image comes back. And you might say, \u201cOkay, sure, but what does this have to do with my thoughts?\u201d Much more than you might think.<\/p>\n

From this experiential exercise, we can draw several conclusions. First, many of our thoughts are automatic<\/strong> \u2014 they appear without any conscious effort on our part. They travel through our minds independently. Second, paradoxically, trying not to think about something makes it show up even more.<\/strong> Third, trying to control our thoughts requires mental energy and effort,<\/strong> and it\u2019s not something simple.<\/p>\n

In the short term, pushing away a thought might bring some relief. But if the strategy demands a huge amount of effort, is it something we can realistically sustain over the long term? It\u2019s very helpful to imagine our mind like a highway<\/strong> where there\u2019s always traffic. Depending on the time of day, there are more or fewer cars \u2014 and sometimes even traffic jams. It\u2019s a highway that cannot be shut down. The highway is our brain, and the cars are our thoughts.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"¿Crees<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

So, What Is a Thought?<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Now that we’ve personally experienced how difficult it is to control a thought, it\u2019s time to ask ourselves: what exactly is a thought?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes, people think in images. However, in this article, we\u2019ll focus on those thoughts that aren\u2019t images but words.<\/strong> Yes, you read that correctly \u2014 thoughts are nothing more than language<\/strong>. Let\u2019s try another exercise to become more aware of our thoughts. Often, we aren\u2019t even conscious of what we\u2019re thinking. We take our internal dialogue throughout the day for granted and assume that what we think is accurate and real. But what if I told you that not everything we think is true?<\/strong> Sometimes, we deceive ourselves. Before diving deeper, let’s complete this exercise. You might find it helpful to close your eyes. Focus on what\u2019s crossing your mind right now and write it down below:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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    \n
  • Thought 1:<\/li>\n
  • Thought 2:<\/li>\n
  • Thought 3:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>

    After the exercise, it\u2019s as if we’ve externalized what was inside us. What form do they take now? Exactly \u2014 words. Words are just that: words.<\/strong> What I mean is, just like we can invent a completely made-up story from scratch, if the content of our mind is language, why couldn\u2019t it work the same way?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    To understand why language holds so much power in our minds, we need to take a brief look at our species\u2019 history.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \"¿Crees<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

    Language is a fundamental part of our nature. Thanks to language, humans can evaluate the consequences of actions, predict or anticipate the future, learn from the past, accumulate knowledge, and regulate both their own and others’ behavior. In fact, it\u2019s because of language that humanity has reached such high levels of cultural, intellectual, and environmental development.<\/p>\n

    Thus, we can say that language has been key to human survival.<\/strong> In the past, communication was vital. It allowed our ancestors to defend themselves, attack, and ultimately survive. However, today, we live in a society where life-threatening danger is not an everyday reality. In this context, confusing thoughts with reality can generate great distress. For instance, in ancient times, if someone said a mammoth was coming, a mammoth was indeed coming. Thought and reality were aligned, and the alert was real. Today, we might think we\u2019re going to get fired, fall ill, or that something bad will happen \u2014 and yet it might not be real, or there might be no evidence for it.<\/p>\n

    Thus, thought and reality are two separate dimensions. Because of this, when we have \u201cpositive\/pleasant thoughts,\u201d we tend to believe we will have positive experiences; and when we have \u201cnegative\/unpleasant thoughts,\u201d we anticipate negative outcomes. We create a cause-and-effect relationship: if I think a certain way, certain things will happen. Relating to our thoughts in this way makes it logical for us to try to escape, flee, and avoid anything that feels \u201cnegative.\u201d But as we\u2019ve seen earlier, the more we try to run from a thought, the more persistently it follows us.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    We Try to Avoid the Unavoidable<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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    Even though it\u2019s a truth we might not like, suffering is an inherent part of life. Suffering includes losses, disappointments, sadness \u2014 emotions and experiences we all face at some point. Nevertheless, in modern societies, progress seems to be geared toward rejecting discomfort. But let\u2019s ask ourselves: could we move a mountain? We might try, but it\u2019s highly unlikely we\u2019d succeed. The same thing happens here. While avoiding suffering might seem like a logical response, today this strategy can end up working against us. Reality is often understood as two opposing teams: either I feel good or I feel bad. If I feel good, it means I’m thinking positively; everything is normal, and I can live comfortably. But if I feel bad, it must be because I\u2019m thinking negatively, something must be wrong, and life becomes uncomfortable. Our main goal becomes feeling good, because we believe that feeling bad is wrong. Thus, we try to avoid doubts, worries, and \u201cnegative\u201d emotions (if such a thing even exists). The truth is, as long as those emotions have a reasonable cause, intensity, frequency, and duration, they are part of being human. There will be other times, of course, when seeking professional support is necessary.<\/p>\n

    Some everyday examples of avoidance might sound like:<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \n
      \n
    • \u00abDon’t cry.\u00bb<\/li>\n
    • \u00abDon’t worry.\u00bb<\/li>\n
    • \u00abJust think positively and you\u2019ll forget everything.\u00bb<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
      \"¿Crees<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

      When we try to escape from all discomfort<\/strong>, it can develop into what is known as Experiential Avoidance Disorder<\/strong>. This occurs when a person uses avoidance as a generalized coping strategy,<\/strong> affecting many areas of life and significantly limiting their functioning. In our attempt to run away from memories, thoughts, emotions, or images that generate discomfort, we end up also avoiding everything that brings us joy.<\/strong> When we avoid what makes us uncomfortable, we feel immediate relief, which in turn reinforces avoidance. It becomes a never-ending cycle<\/strong>, where we build a cozy castle for ourselves \u2014 but at the cost of everything we stop experiencing outside those walls.<\/p>\n

      Believing that thoughts are reality<\/strong> leads us to suffer when their content is distressing. Since we don’t like suffering, we avoid \u2014 and by avoiding, we only make the thought stronger. Accepting our humanity, with all its light and shadows, is not about giving up \u2014 it\u2019s about beginning to live more fully. There are many strategies that can help us build a healthier relationship with our thoughts. As we\u2019ve seen, thoughts are like fellow travelers: we can’t always control who gets in, but we can decide how to coexist with them. In the next article, we\u2019ll delve deeper into some of these tools.<\/p>\n

      Meanwhile, remember: you don\u2019t have to walk this path alone. If you\u2019ve been feeling unwell for a long time, if your discomfort interferes with your life, or even if you simply feel you need some support, seeking professional help is an act of bravery and self-care. The right guidance can make all the difference and help you discover new ways of living with greater well-being.<\/p>\n<\/div>

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>
      <\/div><\/div>

      1. Is it possible to control our thoughts?<\/strong>
      \nNot entirely. Many thoughts are automatic and arise without conscious control.<\/p>\n

      2. Why do unwanted thoughts become stronger when I try to avoid them?<\/strong>
      \nBecause thought avoidance often produces a paradoxical effect that increases their presence.<\/p>\n

      3. Are thoughts always real or true?<\/strong>
      \nNo. Thoughts are forms of language and do not always represent reality or facts.<\/p>\n

      4. What happens if I constantly avoid uncomfortable thoughts or emotions?<\/strong>
      \nThis can lead to experiential avoidance, limiting daily functioning and increasing distress.<\/p>\n

      5. When should professional help be considered?<\/strong>
      \nWhen distress is persistent, interferes with daily life, or causes significant suffering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t

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