Eckhart Tolle explains why telling yourself to stop thinking doesn't work. Trying to suppress thoughts is like holding your breath. Instead, recognize the difference between awareness and being caught in your thoughts.
There is awareness in you, you are not completely identified with the stream of thinking. But even though you are not completely identified with the stream of thinking, it may still be difficult even for you or some of you to simply say, I'm not going to think now for a minute. Is that a possibility? Don't hold your breath, it doesn't work.
Why alcohol feels like relief, and what it is really giving you | Eckhart Tolle
