What are you thinking about? According to the National Science Foundation, thoughts careen through our heads at the rate of 50,000 or so per day. That’s around 45 thoughts per minute, jogging through our three-pound cabezas and causing all sorts of mischief. That’s insane. And it can make you feel like you’re going bonkers when all those thoughts are tugging at you, clamoring for attention.

DO THIS, NOT THAT. IT’S MORE FUN!

YOU MUST EXERCISE OR YOU WILL EXPLODE INTO FLUFF

YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH! DON’T EVEN TRY!

WHY ARE YOU TRYING?

I WANT A TRIPLE CARAMEL MACCHIATTO WITH FIVE ADD SHOTS.  WHAT?

LOOK AT THAT PRETTY BUTTERFLY!

WHY DOES THAT PERSON HATE ME?

I REALLY HATE THAT PERSON.

AM I A HOARDER?

THAT PERSON IS DRIVING TOO FAST

THAT DOG JUST CRAPPED ON MY LAWN

I WANT A BURRITO FOR DINNER

I WONDER IF I CAN GET

The thing is that most of the thoughts we have tend to be negative, or prey on our insecurities. Some researchers claim that 80 percent or more of our daily meanderings are negative. It makes sense: most people don’t spend their day thinking about how wonderful they are. Rather, it’s usually a mish-mash of chores, self-doubt and random chuff, most of which we can do without. Today, with smartphones, we’re bombarded by even more noise, and intrusions.

I say enough. Find time every day to put down the phone, and empty your mind. Let the seeds of temptation and self-doubt pass along their merry way, without becoming anything more than a wayward whisper in the wind. Recharge, relax and find the center of who you are. And why you’re important to the world.