I grew up in a very conservative religious family.  No one ever discussed taking control of my thoughts. It was more about allowing God to provide the thoughts that you should have. As an adult, I found that this world of the supernatural was not working for me. I learned that it was best to face reality. And I learned that I had to find a way to take control of my thoughts.

But meditation was an interesting subject. As I learned, I found that I didn’t need the supernatural to meditate. I did not need a trance or some other form of altered mental state. Through meditation I could take control of my thoughts.

Meditation does not involve shutting down your mind. Instead, it is a matter of determining how to manage them. Many people find it difficult at first to control their thoughts, but it is worthwhile to try. Here are seven ideas to help you manage your thoughts.

1. Rethink what “controlling your thoughts” entails.

Most people believe that controlling their thoughts entails strict control over the types of ideas they have. This is a misinterpretation. In reality, we do not have complete control over the thoughts that enter our heads.

We only have control over our actions and reactions to our thoughts. When you attempt to control your thoughts, you are actually controlling how your mind wanders and responds to them.

2. Recognize your emotions.

When a thought enters your mind while you’re meditating, acknowledge it rather than dismiss it. Recognizing the idea and allowing it to teach you is the first step. Allow the thought to arise and acknowledge its presence as a result.

3. Allow the thought to finish on its own.

Once you’ve acknowledged the thought’s existence, let it go. Do not try to pull it out by pinching it. This is because pinching the thought off prevents your mind from gaining clarity and growth, making the concept more recurrent and difficult to eliminate. Allow your thoughts to naturally flow to their conclusion.

/4. When you’ve finished with an idea, keep it in check.

Even though you should acknowledge your thoughts, you should not let your mind wander. Instead, once your thoughts have reached their logical conclusion, you should stop them. This may be difficult at first, but it will assist you in focusing, concentrating, and thinking clearly.

5. Recognize and accept negative thoughts.

When you acknowledge your thoughts, try to recognize any negative thoughts that arise. Identifying negative thoughts will help you become more aware of how many there are, allowing you to be more mindful in the future.

6. Recognize the distinction between fact and fiction

When you notice unpleasant thoughts, try to separate fact from fiction in your mind. As a result, you will be able to retrain your thinking to be kinder and more realistic about yourself and life.