Do you think that you think your own thoughts?

Question

Before answering please take some time to think this through, are your thoughts truly your own, or are they the result of the the way you have been taught to think

Answer 1

In the world that I am, I am indispensable, and nothing could have existed without me. If this is true then all that I think is mine too, purely mine; and then whatever I have been taught, for the manners of my thinking, is also only the affect of my existence, as no one would have been able to teach me anything, or could have influenced my thoughts, if I were not the prime motive for the act present at the first place. Then once I know for sure that this is my being in its entirely, only then I am able to see if I have been, or if I am right, or wrong, not only in what I think, but also in what I make other people around me think.

On the other hand if I believe that I am just a produce of some huge unintelligible mess in this world, then the first thing I lose, is my sense of responsibility, and realisation that I have a power of choice, that I can choose to think or act in either of the two ways. I own myself up every moment to see if I am along the right directions.

But there is also a relativistic interpretation to our thoughts when we choose to think more passively. In that our thoughts are like the ripples and waves upon the surface of a lake created as a consequence of breeze flowing upon, and when that surface is clam and serene we reflect the scenic beauty all around the lake, but when the self, or ego, is in turmoil there is nothing to be seen but a self, or I, in turmoil, borrowed thoughts of troubled nature.

Answer 2

Some are my own, some are influenced by others or things I've seen/read. I definitely think things that go against how I was raised or taught, but I doubt I'm the first person ever to have those particular thoughts. Very little is thought of that hasn't already crossed someone else's mind somewhere throughout history.

Answer 3

To truly answer this question honestly I would have to say I have been groomed a great deal by my parents in all aspects of my life,what is right what is wrong etc....
So a great deal of my thoughts are the result of the grooming process and thoughts that my parents drilled into me.
I 'm ok with that,
They are good people and treat people well,and have tried to teach me morals,decency,and a certain code of ethics.
If I 'm in doubt I will think what would my parents think is the right thing to do here?
And if I opt for that choice there is usually never any regret or guilt for the option I have chosen.

Answer 4

Do you think your own thouhts? yes you can think no one elses.

what oyu seem to have confused is how you think.
thinking and how you think and the results of that thinking.
whilst all of thes points are related, each ae diffrent.

thinking - this is just what we do.
how you think - a result of our interactions and our choices becomes a mish mash of the external influences and the internal.
the results - well they are your conclusions, a great deal of which is influensed by how, and theres always the question of wether you hold on to it. if you dont the next time you may have a diffrent conclusion.

you are only capable of thinking your own thoughts, how much of thinking and your beliefs are influenced (not controled as your suggestion seems to go toward, despite your wording). we are all influenced by that which is external, to be taught is to be influenced as no two people will take exactly the same information and meanings from anything therefore they are influenced. whihch may acheieve very similar results, infact so similar the diffrences may be hard to tell, but there will be diffrences. so depends a lot on what you want to see, as to what you place your attention on.

do you think you dont think your own thoughts? who then thinks for you? no one can think for you. you can give up your own choice making - but that requires thought. you can choose not to trust your thoughts - but you have to think that. how you think can even be influenced by the language you speak and think in to an extent (look into othere languages and see what they ahve words for and how it splits some things to ahve diffrent words for diffrent contexts, it therefore places meaning and sperations that other languages dont)

you will always think your own thoughts, the question is how much is influenced and how dependant on those influences are you.

Answer 5

My thoughts for the past 15 years have been those of my husband. Before that, they were the thoughts of my parents, my peers and such.

I feel, now that I am on my way to becoming a single mom, I am for the first time in my life thinking my own thoughts.

I still incorporate the thoughts and teachings I have picked up in my 32 years, but I make them my own and decide for myself.

Answer 6

I understand your question.
The answer I cannot give as there is already a whole book written on the subject. It covers where these other thoughts come from, and weather it is you or what the deal is.
By the way, this is a good question, I had it for years too till I read the book. It is called Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
I very strongly recommend it.

Answer 7

Did you think of this question first or did it just come out of your mouth randomly. I know that i think my own thoughts. I have to think about this question and how to possibly answer it. I know that we can think whatever we want. Those thoughts are our own and nobody else. However these thoughts can be persuaded by influences around us. For instance in the book 1984 the main character is forced to be made to belive that 2+2=5. So unless people are brainwashed thoughts are of whatever seems to be right infront of them but are subject to be changed

Answer 8

Most people think what they are taught and hear from other sources.

There are ways to remove old thinking. Meditation and cognitive therapy work wonders.

There will come a point after weeks - sometimes months or years - of meditation and clearing that mind that you will be very aware that your mind is empty. Strangely, after this point is reached, reality in it's truest form can be seen. Instead of hearing things inside your mind which have been recycled from old (usually wrong) teachings, one can hear things of a much higher level.
James Clerk Maxwell and Albert Einstein were aware of this phenomenon.

I would recommend meditation to anyone who wanted to connect with their higher conscious and see life more clearly.

Answer 9

this is a great question.
it explains the limitation of mind.

mind can do extraordinary things, but it is still always, only composed of thought.
no trees, no forest;
no thought, no mind.

look at your question;
'please take some time to think this through'
here is the complete identity, 'I am my thoughts',
cogito ergo sum, I think therefore I am.
but I am not always here, am I?
mind comes and goes, but one thing is eternal.

notice how you suggested thinking about the nature of thought.
this will only be more thought, more mind.
the mind cannot see itself, but we can recognise the truth of it's mechanism;
there are thoughts, sometimes there are not thoughts, at least when I am in dreamless sleep.

your awareness does not require thought.
thought occurs within awareness.

no thought, no problem; the source of thought is revealed.
but it cannot be explained.

that would just be another idea!

Answer 10

As the above answerer mentioned, Meditation is the best way to learn how to control our thoughts. Meditation involves the art of concentration and quietening the mind. In meditation we not only try to control our thoughts but we also can bring to the fore our inner qualities of peace and oneness. If we can invoke the calming power of our own heart, then we use an alternative force to take the place of the negative mind. We should meditate every day so that we can bring to the fore as much as peace as possible into our mind. If we only meditate when we are overrun with thoughts, we will find meditation very difficult. But, if we gain peace of mind through our daily meditation then we develop our inner capacities to control our thoughts. Cheers!