What is a thought?
For practical purposes, it is reasonable to regard a thought as a kind of simulation of one or more senses. This perspective aligns with how the mind often generates internal representations—mental images, sounds, or other sensory-like impressions—to simulate aspects of experience. Here’s why this is a useful and practical way to think about thoughts:
1. Thoughts as Simulations
Nature of Thoughts:
Thoughts often replicate sensory experiences in a way that feels real but occurs entirely within the mind.
- A visual thought might appear as a mental image, like replaying a memory or imagining a future scene.
- An auditory thought might take the form of inner dialogue or “hearing” someone’s voice in your mind.
Purpose of Simulations:
These mental simulations allow the mind to predict, analyze, or reflect without directly engaging with the physical world.
2. How Thoughts Simulate Senses
Visual Simulation:
- Example: Mentally picturing an object, place, or person.
- Practical example: Imagining a route to a destination or visualizing how a room might look after rearranging furniture.
Auditory Simulation:
- Example: Inner dialogue or recalling a song.
- Practical example: Rehearsing a conversation or replaying past words someone said.
Somatic (Bodily) Simulation:
- Example: Mentally reliving the sensation of falling or feeling warmth.
- Practical example: Anticipating physical discomfort before a dental appointment.
Complex Simulations (Multi-Sensory):
- Example: Daydreaming about being on a beach, including the imagined sight of waves, the sound of the ocean, and the feeling of sand.
- Practical example: Mentally simulating an upcoming event to prepare for possible outcomes.
3. How This Perspective Helps in Practice
Recognizing the Difference:
By framing thoughts as sensory simulations, it becomes easier to distinguish them from actual sensory experiences.
- Example: If you’re “hearing” someone’s voice in your head, recognizing it as a thought simulation helps separate it from actual sounds.
Grounding in Reality:
This perspective encourages grounding in direct sensory experience, which is immediate and real, as opposed to the mind’s re-creations.
- Example: Instead of getting lost in imagined worries (e.g., “What if I fail this presentation?”), you can shift focus to the actual sensation of your breath or the room you’re in.
Reducing Emotional Reactivity:
Simulations often feel as real as actual sensory experiences, triggering emotional reactions. Recognizing them as just thoughts (simulations) can lessen their emotional grip.
- Example: A thought like “Everyone will judge me” feels less overwhelming when seen as an internal simulation rather than reality.
4. Limitations of This Approach
While this framing is practical, it has its limitations:
- Not All Thoughts Are Sensory: Abstract concepts or ideas (e.g., solving a math problem) may not clearly simulate sensory input.
- Complex Narratives: Thoughts often combine sensory-like simulations with abstract reasoning, making them harder to identify.
However, for distinguishing thoughts from direct experience, this framing is highly effective in most cases.
5. Practical Application
Exercise: Differentiating Simulations from Reality
- Pause: Take a moment to observe your current experience.
- Identify Sensory Inputs: Focus on what you are physically seeing, hearing, or feeling in the moment.
- Spot Simulations: Notice any sensory-like experiences arising solely in the mind, such as imagined visuals, inner speech, or remembered sensations.
- Label: Mentally note, “This is a thought (simulation)” versus “This is direct experience.”
Example:
- Simulation: Mentally replaying a conversation with a friend.
- Reality: Hearing the hum of a fan in the room.
