Thoughts. Those awful things. Necessary things that we think and need. Creatures that dart around your mind all day, making you question everything and nothing at once. It’s held together by scotch-tape and glue sticks in there, let me tell you.

One moment you’re contemplating the mysteries of the creation of the universe and what really is Dark Matter, the next you’re wondering if you moved the sheets out of the washer into the dryer and if they’re starting to mold yet. How long does mold take to grow? How many kinds of mold are there? Are all kinds toxic? Is that why my thoughts don’t.. think?

Where do all these thoughts go? Do they gather somewhere, having a meeting of the minds? Where can I find the good ones? Are they the graduates of Thought Schools, living Thought lives where they have their own professions living in the lives of the heads of successful people and people who are capable of managing them and their résumés.

Are any thoughts, bad thoughts? It’s hard to quantify a thought as bad when on a journey of self-improvement. Or so my therapist would tell me. Thinking about thoughts and taking them as they are, meeting them at the moments of their weaknesses, appreciating them for their faults, acknowledging the fact that they are there, is believed to help in this self-reflection.

Like, Yes, I see you Mr. “I wonder what it’d be like if I just suddenly jerked the wheel” intrusive thought. I recognize that you are an intrusive thought. Trespassing into my brain lane. That’s okay. I see you. I don’t need you meddling any longer than the moment you’ve appeared. I won’t be propelling my car into the wall of the garage while turning in. That’s too expensive.

But in the grand scheme of things, maybe it doesn’t matter where these go. I could get paid big bucks to tell other people what the point of thinking is, but what would be the thought in that?

I could even find where in the brain you think certain thoughts. How you think. If I went to school, of course. Trained my thoughts. I know I’m not the first to think of it. To think about thinking. To think of the science of thinking.

Could all this brain picking lead to that perfect idea you had that you could patent and finally make bank on? I don’t know. I’m just thinking out loud.

Thinking of That

Having thoughts, good and bad, is a normal part of life. If you’re thinking these intrusive thoughts, though, and they’re beginning to overwhelming you, drown and agonize your days, I’m providing a list of helpful places and other links down below.

//

Crisis Thoughts

• Crisis Text Line – Text “HELLO” to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support in the US.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Provides free and confidential support for people in distress.
• Trans Lifeline – A hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis.
• NAMI – The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness.
• RAINN – The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network provides support and resources for survivors of sexual violence.
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline – Provides support and resources for those experiencing domestic violence.
• Human Trafficking Hotline – Resources and support for those affected by human trafficking.
• The Trevor Project – Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.

Thinking Other Thoughts

• Free Rice – Every correct answer you give provides 10 grains of rice for the World Food Programme
• eXhalr – Breathe with the app, in, out. It’s simple.
• Action for Happiness – Provides resources and events to help you live a happier life.
• Daily Good – A website dedicated to sharing inspiring and positive stories from around the world.
• Mark Manson – Articles on happiness, self-improvement, and living a better life.
• The Positivity Blog – Articles and tips to help you lead a happier and more positive life.
• The Emotion Machine – Blog focused on psychology, self-improvement, and mental well-being.
• Happify – Science-based activities and games to improve your mental health and happiness.
• Atlas of Emotions – An interactive site to help you understand and navigate your emotions.
• Pixel Thoughts – A 60-second meditation tool to help you relax and put things in perspective.

Learn Some Different Thoughts

• OpenLearn – Free courses provided by The Open University.
• Discover a Hobby – Find a new hobby to improve your skills and mental health.
• Blurt – Focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of depression.
• Coursera Free Courses – Free courses on various topics from top universities.
• Unfuck Your Habitat – Not every thing you learn has to be educational. Sometimes, it’s the simple things like how to unfuck yourself and your space.

Thinking Through It Together

• 7 Cups – Free online text chat with trained listeners, and online therapy.
• Project LETS – A peer-led organization that provides support for individuals with mental health disabilities.
• BlahTherapy – Connect with random strangers to talk about your worries and receive free online therapy.
• Disability Visibility Project – An online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture.
• It Gets Better – Shares stories to empower LGBTQ youth and provide a sense of community
• PFLAG – Provides support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ individuals and their families.

//

This thinking list is not all inclusive. I wish it could be, friend. I know what it’s like to be on the other side and looking for resources that you haven’t already seen and things that might actually make a change for you. Do you have any cool ones I haven’t listed?

What about you? Where do you think your thoughts go?