Meditation in Eastertide ~ Saturday, Week 2: Overthinking?

April 13, 2024 ~ Saturday in Eastertide, Week 2

 

THINK DIFFERENT. 

But don't believe everything you think.

~ Charlie Chaplin*

  

       I like Charlie’s thinking about this!  I'm always certain that my thoughts are on track and correct, except when I stop to think about my thoughts. Then, I realize I might, possibly, perhaps, have a bias or two, or, at the very least, an untested expectation that affects what I'm thinking. Often I think that she or he or they think that I should think one thing or another, but I've never asked her, him, or them so maybe they don't think that at all but something else instead. But if I ask them, will they think I just don't know what I'm thinking? All this thinking stuff gives me a headache. Can't I just breeze through life thoughtlessly? So many others seem to, or is that just a thought I shouldn’t think?

 

      Dear Most High Lord and Excellent Thinker of Thoughts, please help me to work more diligently on how to think critically, objectively, and constructively. Let me recognize and understand the biases and emotions that influence my thoughts and, after some analysis (which may include advice from several others), I hope to feel comfortable moving forward anyway or, to change direction somewhat or even entirely. I do know that my thoughts, human as they are, will always be flawed in one way or another. Grant me the ability to be open to changes in my opinions and positions based on new information, even if from people I don't especially like. (the “liking” being a decision of sorts based on whatever I’m thinking in a given moment) 

      Let me work through criticism of me calmly ~ fair or not (in my humble opinion) ~ and accept the outcomes of my actions (and my [sometimes?] over-quick mouth) while learning new lessons for the future.        Whether my thinking is inside or outside of any given box, let me not recycle the same ways of understanding life in ever smaller circles with ever smaller thoughts, or, in other words, please don't let me believe everything I think. amen. 

 

*Charlie Chaplin [1899-1977], born in England, was an actor, comedian, director, and writer ~ all of the first magnitude ~ with a huge fan base on both sides of the Atlantic and elsewhere that helped him survive both adoration and significant controversy. His brilliance in his early silent films is still well admired today. His most famous character, The Tramp, propelled him to icon status. But his The Great Dictator, 1940, was quite amazing for its time in making fun of Hitler. Check listings, it is available on some streaming sites. Worth the watch!

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