Our inner experience is simultaneously the most unique thing about ourselves, and yet also a complete mystery to us. Mindfulness practices are built on paying attention to this inner experience.

Through quieting the mind in meditation, we learn to watch our thoughts without letting them run away with us.

With grounding practices, we become aware of our direct experience of warmth, sound, taste — and do our very best to experience it without describing it or narrating it inside our heads.

But did you know, about half of all people do not have an inner monologue? They never have fake conversations in their head. They don't experience that mindless flow of moment-by-moment descriptions of their life.

Simply put, they don't think in words.

Instead, they think in pictures, moving images, or the abstract "impression."

Trying to imagine this feels impossible to me! Yet, so does trying to accurately depict the way I experience by own (mostly auditory, like a voice speaking in my head) thoughts.

Philosopher William James said the attempt of introspection is like trying to see a spinning top's movement by grabbing it, or attempting to better observe darkness by casting a light on it.

Researchers have tried countless times to study people's internal experience. In one study, participants carried a device that would randomly buzz to tell the participant to record what they were thinking at that exact moment. Turns out — easier said than done. On average, people could only identify what they were thinking about 23% of the time.

It's humbling to realize that even with vast amounts of experience, we remain a mystery to ourselves.

So do you think in words or pictures?

If you think primarily in words, then affirmations may be helpful for you. When you find yourself thinking an unhelpful thought ("that was dumb," "this is so hard," or "I don't know what to do") you can shift your thinking with an affirmation.

The more we consciously repeat affirmations (or Words of Truth), the more likely they are to become part of our internal monologue.

An affirmation can be a verse from the Bible or a short, memorable saying. In the show Ted Lasso, one of the characters uses "I am a strong and capable man." It becomes his mantra, helping to direct his internal monologue to the positive when he's feeling negative.

Two of my favorites are:

1) I am in the flow of life and it is all good! (or fun, or exciting)

2) I am making progress.

An affirmation can even be a sing-songy tune, like just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

If you think primarily in pictures, try visualization.

A friend told me she imagines a scene from her home town in the fall and it helps calm her.

At night, try visualizing your "ideal morning" in as much detail as possible.

Or when you're stressed, visualize everything working out perfectly.

Don't forget grounding practices, too! We can get so caught up in our minds — whether we think in words or pictures — that we sometimes lose sight (literally!) of what is happening around us.

If you notice you're "up in your head," take a few moments to reconnect with your breath, the sensation of your feet on the floor, and listen to the sounds around you.

And enjoy being the beautiful mystery that you are.

I love you!

- Amanda Sue

ExpandingMindsAndHearts.com