The Thinking Mind: Why It Can Block You from Truly Experiencing Life
One of the concepts explored in yoga is the thinking mind—the constant stream of thoughts, judgments, and mental commentary that runs through our awareness. While thinking is an incredible tool for planning and problem-solving, it can also keep us from fully experiencing the present moment.
Why We Miss the Moment
When we’re caught up in analyzing, replaying, or predicting, we’re not actually engaging with what’s happening now. Our attention shifts from the vivid details of the present to a mental loop of sorting, judging, and comparing.
Neuroscience calls this the default mode network (DMN)—a set of brain regions most active when the mind is wandering or self-referencing. The DMN is excellent for recalling the past or imagining the future, but when it dominates, we lose touch with fresh sensory experiences. In those moments, we’re not receiving new information; we’re sifting through old data.
What Yoga Teaches About the Thinking Mind
Yoga philosophy has been guiding practitioners toward present-moment awareness for thousands of years. The idea is simple: by anchoring attention to breath, movement, and sensation, we can step out of the constant chatter of the mind and into the body’s direct experience.
Modern research supports this. Studies show that mindfulness practices reduce DMN activity, improve emotional regulation, and enhance sensory processing. When we’re present, our nervous system calms, our senses sharpen, and our ability to connect—with ourselves and others—deepens.
Think of It This Way
Your body is already having an experience. But if your mind is narrating, judging, or comparing, it’s like being on a beautiful scenic drive with a tour guide who never stops talking—you miss the view.
The practice isn’t to turn your mind off completely (that’s not realistic and not the goal). Instead, it’s about noticing when your thoughts pull you away and gently returning to the here and now—moment by moment.
Your Turn
I’d love to hear from you:
💬 Have you noticed your thinking mind pulling you away from the present?
💬 What helps you drop back into your body?
If this resonates and you want to explore it more deeply, I invite you to:
📩 Send me any questions you have—I love these conversations.
🧘 Book a one-on-one virtual session so we can work together on bringing your awareness into the present and calming the mind-body system.
With Love,
Jeri
