Our mind is on our side, yet it can still be challinging. What are the mind's tricky characteristics that we should be aware of? And how can meditation help us handle them? Discover the key to greater freedom within your own mind.

1) The Mind Can’t Be Turned Off

Let’s try an experiment. Set a timer for 20 seconds, close your eyes, and think about nothing.

How did it go? Were you able to do it?

If not, that’s completely normal. The mind's job is to think, and so it does so. Studies show that we have anywhere from 6,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day.

It’s unlikely that anyone can keep their mind empty for more than a few seconds. If it feels like we can, it’s usually because we’re simply unaware of our thoughts at that moment (see point 2).

How meditation helps: Meditation teaches us to let thoughts come and go without getting caught up in them. Learning not to engage with thoughts brings a sense of inner peace and mental clarity.

2) Our Feelings and Reactions Often Stem from Unnoticed Thoughts

There are more thoughts in our mind than we realize. We are conscious of only about 5% of what’s happening in our minds — this includes thoughts, emotions, behavioral patterns, sensory perceptions, and other processes.

In practice, this means we often don’t know why we feel the way we do or why we react in certain ways. We also frequently fail to notice when our mind has wandered somewhere we didn’t intend. Similarly, we might only recognize an emotion when it has already grown so strong that it completely takes over.

How meditation helps: Meditation helps us become more aware of what’s happening in our minds. Training our attention allows us to notice hidden thoughts and patterns and work with them consciously.

3) The Brain Amplifies Negative Thoughts

Our brain is wired to protect us by warning us of potential threats. That’s why it gives more weight to worries and negative scenarios than to pleasant thoughts.

How meditation helps: Meditation teaches us to observe unpleasant thoughts and emotions without letting them control us. Some forms of meditation also train us to focus on positive aspects of our reality, leading to greater overall well-being.

4) We Can’t Always Choose Our Thoughts

We can plant certain thoughts in our minds intentionally. However, many thoughts simply arise without our control. When we have distressing or embarrassing thoughts, we may feel guilty or upset about them.

How meditation helps: Meditation teaches us to accept thoughts as they are, without automatically reacting to them. Observing thoughts without judgment allows us to be more at ease with them and consciously decide how (or whether) to respond.

Conclusion: Make Your Mind Your Ally

Our mind can be a great ally—but only if we learn how to work with it. Meditation helps us approach our thoughts with perspective and cultivate greater mental freedom.

You can try practicing with my free guided meditations on the InsightTimer app. Also, feel free to contact me for more support.