Thinking You’re in Control? You're Wrong About Your Thoughts

Have you ever heard someone say, "You need to control your thoughts"? It sounds like good advice, right? After all, if you could control your thoughts, you’d have control over everything—your mind, your emotions, your life. But here's the truth: you can’t control your thoughts. You can only control your thinking. And that difference? It’s massive.

Let's break it down. First, we need to distinguish between thought and thinking. These two things might seem like the same, but they couldn’t be more different.

Thought: The Unconscious Elephant

Thought is unconscious. It’s a wild, uncontrollable beast—like an elephant roaming free. You don’t have direct control over your thoughts. They pop into your head without warning. They are automatic, spontaneous, and they’re often influenced by things outside your awareness—your past experiences, your environment, your emotions, even your biology.

Think about it. You can’t stop yourself from thinking about something like a pink elephant the moment I say it. That’s because thoughts are automatic, and you can’t directly control them. They come and go, like waves on the ocean. But here's the catch: You don’t need to control your thoughts. Trying to control them is like trying to tame an elephant with your bare hands—impossible, and frankly, exhausting.

Thinking: The Conscious Rider

Now, thinking—this is where you get to take charge. Unlike thought, thinking is a conscious act. It's a chain of thoughts that you actively participate in. When you sit down to solve a problem or plan your day, that’s thinking. It’s where your control lies. The key here is that thinking is a choice.

Imagine this: If your mind is like an elephant, then thinking is like being the rider or master of the elephant. You might not control the elephant itself, but you control where it goes, how it moves, and how fast it travels. You're guiding it, making conscious decisions about its direction. It’s a powerful position to be in because you can steer the elephant, but you can't entirely control its nature. Your conscious mind has power over how you respond to your thoughts, not necessarily over the thoughts themselves.

Why You Don’t Need to Control Your Subconscious Mind

A lot of people try to control their subconscious minds, to control every little thought and detail. But that’s not just unnecessary—it’s unwise. Think about it for a moment. If you had to control every single function of your body—your breathing, digestion, blood flow—you’d be in serious trouble. These processes are automatic for a reason. The body has its systems running perfectly without you needing to focus on them. Your subconscious mind works the same way. It’s doing its job in the background, managing thoughts, emotions, and reactions that don’t require your constant oversight.

Now imagine if you *did* have to control all those systems. What if you had to consciously remember to breathe, regulate your heartbeat, or digest food? You’d be overwhelmed in no time. And the moment you forgot—just for a second—you might even stop breathing, and that’s it. You’re gone. Your subconscious mind is a protective, automatic system designed to take care of things without you even noticing. And that’s how it works with thoughts too. They’ll come and go, whether you want them to or not. You don’t need to wrestle with them.

The Real Power Is in Thinking, Not Thought

Here’s the game-changer: The real power lies in how you think about the thoughts that come to you. That’s where you have control. When a thought comes into your mind—whether it’s negative or anxious—you have the ability to decide how you respond to it. You can let it pass, or you can turn it into thinking. You can decide to engage with it or let it go. You can choose to shift your focus onto something else.

Let’s say you get a thought that causes anxiety—like, “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t do this.” The thought is automatic, unconscious, like an elephant stomping through your mind. But the thinking part is where you come in. You can either start thinking about it, dwelling on it, and making it bigger, or you can observe it and let it pass. The more you practice this, the stronger you become at choosing your thinking. Instead of spiraling into self-doubt, you can take a moment, breathe, and ask yourself, “Is this thought helpful? Is this thought serving me?” If it’s not, you let it go.

Why You Don’t Need to Fight Your Mind

One of the biggest misconceptions is that we need to fight our thoughts or suppress them. That’s exhausting and pointless. Think about trying to fight the elephant. The more you fight, the more you get trampled. Instead, the key is to learn how to guide your thinking. Just like an elephant rider isn’t trying to control the entire elephant, but instead directs its steps, you don’t need to control every thought. You just need to steer your thinking in the right direction. Guide it toward solutions, toward positive action, or toward a perspective that serves you.

The real power lies in how you respond to the elephant of unconscious thought. It’s not about stopping your mind from working—it’s about choosing how to deal with what comes. Your subconscious is like a vast library of memories, emotions, and automatic reactions. You don’t need to rewrite the entire library. You just need to choose how you react to what comes out.

The Nature of the Mind: A Perfect System

Now, let’s go back to the bigger picture. The system of nature is perfect. You don’t control your subconscious because it’s not meant to be controlled—it’s meant to work in the background, like the systems of your body. If you had to consciously control everything, you’d burn out. But when you understand that the subconscious mind operates on autopilot, doing what it needs to do for your survival, you can focus on the one thing you can control—your conscious thinking.

Think about it: The subconscious is doing its job just fine. It’s handling your emotions, your automatic responses, and even the thoughts that aren’t serving you. You can’t control that part of your mind, but you can control how you react to it. Just like you can’t control the wind, but you can control how you use a sailboat. The wind (your subconscious) is there, but you can direct the boat (your thinking).

Final Thoughts: Be the Rider of Your Mind

To wrap it up, your thoughts are like that wild, powerful elephant—unstoppable and unconscious. You can’t control it, and you don’t need to. Your real power lies in your thinking. That’s where you can be the rider, the one who guides the elephant, not by brute force but by choosing where to go. It’s the difference between feeling overwhelmed by life and taking command of your own mind.

So stop trying to control every thought. Instead, master your thinking. That’s where true freedom lies.

Remember, your mind is a powerful system. It doesn’t need your constant control—it needs your conscious direction.

Is the Law of Attraction Real or Just a Myth?

The Law of Attraction—it’s a topic that’s been hotly debated for years. On one side, you have people who swear by it, claiming that they’ve attracted wealth, success, and happiness simply by thinking about it. On the other side, you have skeptics who believe it’s nothing more than wishful thinking, or worse, complete bullsh*t. Here’s the truth: both sides have valid points. And yet, they’re both missing the full picture.

There’s a common misunderstanding that the Law of Attraction means "just think about what you want, and it will magically appear." It’s the classic “think positive, get positive” message that has been over-simplified to the point where it sounds like some kind of cosmic vending machine: put in a thought, get out a result. Of course, this has led many to dismiss the Law of Attraction as a scam, because let’s face it—just thinking about something without taking any action is not going to make anything happen.

The Real Problem

Here’s the thing—if someone gave you a wrong definition of gravity, would you immediately dismiss the law of gravity as fake? No. You’d recognize that the definition they gave you was wrong, not the law itself. The same applies here. The Law of Attraction isn’t the problem—it’s the definition that’s been twisted and misunderstood by many people that’s the issue.

The idea that all you need to do is “think and receive” is not the real Law of Attraction. That’s a shallow, incomplete version. The truth is, there’s much more to it than that. Just thinking about something isn’t enough. You have to understand that the real Law of Attraction is about aligning your thoughts with actions, habits, and focus to create the life you want. It’s not magic. It’s not woo-woo. It’s about cause and effect.

So, What Really Is the Law of Attraction?

The true Law of Attraction boils down to this: Your thoughts influence your actions, and your actions influence your results. It’s about what you focus on consistently. If you focus on negativity, scarcity, or fear, then those thoughts shape your actions—and as a result, your life will reflect that negativity. On the flip side, if you focus on abundance, growth, and opportunity, you’ll start to see opportunities you might have missed before because your mindset was locked into negativity.

The Law of Attraction isn’t about sitting back and waiting for things to happen—it’s about how your mindset shapes your behavior and decisions, and ultimately, your outcomes.

Think of it like this: If you walk around with the belief that the world is full of opportunities, you’ll start to notice opportunities everywhere. You’ll act on them. You’ll follow through. But if you walk around believing everything is scarce and difficult, then your actions will reflect that mindset. You’ll avoid risks, you’ll hesitate, and you’ll miss out on chances because you’ve conditioned yourself to see only limitations.

The Missing Link

This is where most people get it wrong. They think the Law of Attraction is just about thinking the right thoughts. But thoughts alone aren’t enough. You have to back up those thoughts with action. You have to do the work. If you want to attract success, you need to focus on success, but also take the actions that align with that vision. You can’t sit on your couch, think about wealth, and expect money to fall into your lap. You have to take the necessary steps—build skills, take risks, invest your time and energy.

The Law of Attraction is only half of the equation. The other half is action. If you’re not willing to put in the work, the universe, the marketplace, and your life won’t give you anything.

Let’s be real: If you spend all day thinking about success but don’t put in the work, the world doesn’t care. The marketplace doesn’t care. You don’t get what you want by wishing for it; you get what you deserve through your actions. It’s not magic—it’s simple cause and effect. You focus on what you want, then take massive action towards it, and that combination of mindset and effort is what shapes your outcomes.

Why the Law of Attraction Works for Some People and Not Others

Ever wonder why some people seem to manifest the life they want while others struggle, despite "thinking positively"? The answer is action. Those who succeed aren’t just thinking positively—they’re living in alignment with their vision. They’re taking consistent action, even when it’s hard. They don’t stop at the thinking phase; they execute relentlessly on their goals.

On the other hand, people who sit around waiting for things to happen will find themselves stuck, frustrated, and disappointed. Why? Because they’re missing the action part. The universe, your life, and the opportunities around you don’t reward passive thinking. They reward action.

How to Use The Law of Attraction in Real Life

1. Focus on What You Want, Not What You Fear

Your thoughts are powerful, but not in a magical way. They shape your mindset, which shapes your actions. If you constantly think about what could go wrong, you’ll act in ways that avoid risk. If you focus on what you want and the steps to get there, you’ll be more likely to take positive actions.

2. Take Consistent Action Towards Your Goals

Once you’ve set your mind on a goal, back it up with action. Every day, do something—no matter how small—that moves you closer to that goal. Consistency is key. The Law of Attraction works best when you combine it with consistent, focused action.

3. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

The people you spend time with, the content you consume, and the environment you live in all influence your mindset. Surround yourself with people and ideas that support your goals, and avoid negativity that pulls you down.

4. Accept That You’ll Face Challenges

The Law of Attraction doesn’t mean you won’t face difficulties. In fact, challenges are part of the process. The key is to keep moving forward, even when things get tough. Don’t let setbacks stop you—let them be lessons that push you to grow and adapt.

The Ultimate Lesson

The Law of Attraction is real, but it’s not magic. It’s not about sitting back and hoping the universe hands you what you want. It’s about aligning your mindset, actions, and habits with the life you want to create. It’s about thinking positively, but also taking massive, relentless action towards your goals.

The controversy exists because too many people misunderstand the law. They think it’s a shortcut, an easy way to get what they want without effort. But the truth is, nothing comes without effort. The Law of Attraction works, but only when you put in the work. Think big, act bigger, and you’ll start to see the results you’re after.

So, let’s end the debate once and for all. The Law of Attraction is real, but only if you combine it with action. Thoughts lead to actions, actions lead to results, and that’s the real secret to success. It’s not about wishing—it’s about doing.