CLOUDY THOUGHTS

Written By Duane Nelson


2 IDEAS FROM ME

  • Thoughts are like clouds in the sky which spontaneously arise and pass away as atmospheric conditions change. Experimenting with mindfulness reveals that thoughts do not last— nor do they define who we are in terms of true nature, signature strengths, highest values, and full potential. Thoughts lose their power to carry us into cyclones of suffering when we observe and investigate them rather than claim them as part of our story of who we are.

  • Our minds generate perceptions, judgments, memories, fears, and interpretations—many of which are distorted or conditioned by past experiences and trauma. A trained mind recognizes that thoughts, like impermanent clouds, do not have roots anchored to the ground of being. By treating thoughts as appearances in awareness—not truths—we cultivate wisdom and freedom from automatic reactivity.

2 QUOTES FROM SAGES

  • “Thoughts are only visitors. let them come and go, but do not serve them tea.”—Traditional Zen teaching

  • “You are the sky. Everything else—it’s just the weather.—Pema Chodron

1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

  • What question would best help you process your thoughts as they arise? Some examples to consider are provided below.

    • Is this thought actually true?

    • Is this thought causing more suffering or leading to peace?

    • Is this thought aligned with my deepest values and true nature?

Namaste,

Duane Nelson

Duane Nelson

Ultrajourney Insight is an Anacortes Washington-based non-profit organization providing mindfulness & well-being services designed to ignite the adventure of a lifetime. The founder, Duane Nelson, is a writer, speaker, and teacher with four decades of parenting, wilderness, & international technology leadership. His professional insights come from chemical engineering and automation leadership at Philips, Intel, and Amazon. His adventure insights flow from ultramarathons, mountaineering, canyoneering, and adventure racing in Nepal, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Mexico, British Columbia and Alberta.

https://ultrajourneyinsight.org
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