Something to chew on:

Without doubt, René Descartes’ Cogito, ergo sum is one of the most famous quotes of all time (alongside Neil Armstrong’s That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind and Ross Geller's We were on a break!).

For those who weren’t unfortunate enough to trudge through GCSE Latin:

Cogito, ergo sum = I think, therefore I am

Now far be it for me, an up-and-coming coach and newsletter nut, to have a pop at one of the megastars of modern Western philosophy & mathematics.

But it’s my newsletter, so I’ll do whatever I want!

Not because I want to be antagonistic or anti-René.

But because I feel like it’s my duty to call this out for what it is:

Another example of the sort of widespread bumf which is utterly unhelpful and potentially damaging if people start to internalise, then believe, then live their life by it.

Here’s what I mean:

Anyone who dwells on a familiar quote like “I think, therefore I am” for more than a few seconds could be forgiven for thinking that their thoughts are who they are.

I don’t think it’s an Armstrong-sized giant leap to infer that “I think, therefore I am” is another way of saying “I am my thoughts”.

Yes, I know the intellectual types will tell me that there’s nuance and subtlety at play, and that philosophers have spent decades exploring the intricacies of René’s three little words.

And I’m not disputing that. 

But equally I’m not writing a 77 page PhD thesis here.  I’m writing a chirpy daily email.

So stick with me, because this is where the rubber meets the road.

If you take on a soundbite like “I think, therefore I am” and go on to think that “I am my thoughts”, you might then take a confusing, overwhelming or anxious thought and start to think that you yourself are confused, overwhelmed or anxious.

Or even that you're a confused, overwhelmed or anxious person.

But the truth is this:

No-one is their thoughts. 

Instead, your thoughts are passing through you.  You are that into which your thoughts come, and that out of which thoughts go.

Just like a road is not the traffic, even though cars and lorries pass through or along the road.

Yes – sometimes a lorry breaks down and sticks around for longer than usual.

But even then, the road is not the lorry.

The road is at the mercy of whatever lorry or car decides to travel down it, whether it’s a beat up banger or a fresh off the production line Ferrari.  The road doesn’t get to choose.

Likewise, we don’t choose our thoughts.  We’re at the mercy of whatever thoughts decide to pop into our head.

Sometimes these thoughts are delightful, empowering, re-assuring or encouraging. 

Sometimes they’re scary, undesirable, dispiriting or upsetting. 

Sometimes we even wonder where on earth a thought comes from.

But as long as we don’t make the mistake of thinking that these thoughts mean anything or that we are these thoughts, most of the time they’ll pass through just as quickly as they come.

Okay - enough for the time being.

If you'd like 1 on 1 support with any of this, have a gander here:

https://waitinglist.followingfulfilment.com

That’s all for today.

 - Tom