Understanding the Nature of Thoughts, Experience, and Emotional Awareness In this episode, Sanal delves into the nature of thought and experience, emphasizing how our mind creates our reality. The discussion begins with the concept of awakening to the fact that our experiences are mind-made and often misunderstood. Sanal then goes into the difference between being aware of thinking versus being caught up in it and highlights the importance of identifying thoughts as just thoughts rather than as realities. Personal examples and interactive parts of the talk demonstrate how emotions are tied to thoughts and how we react to them. Techniques such as noticing when experiences are gone, addressing painful memories, and fostering an attitude of equanimity are explained as ways to gain control over one's mind and emotions. The session also touches on optimism, trauma, and the difference between intellectual understanding and experiential realization. The talk underscores the importance of continuous practice and awareness in achieving a balanced and fulfilling mental state. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 01:20 Understanding Awakening and Experience 05:32 The Illusion of Self and Mind 15:48 Memory and Reconstruction 18:52 Practical Example and Emotional Recall 31:45 The Away Model and Its Energy Cost 32:52 The Pitfalls of Labeling Experiences 34:22 Moving Towards What You Want 35:05 Productive Use of Painful Memories 36:02 The Hypnosis of Painful Memories 39:44 Optimism vs. Pessimism 42:01 Awareness and Thinking 47:26 The Practice of Noticing Gone 55:09 Rewriting Traumatic Narratives 01:03:55 The Creator's Attitude 01:06:13 Final Thoughts and Encouragement THANKS FOR WATCHING AND NEXT STEPS ⬇️ ✅Follow the Spiritualogic Podcast ✅Learn More About Spiritualogic https://spiritualogic.com