Mind & Thinking

Receptive: Notice the thoughts that come into your mind. What patterns do you notice in the content of your thoughts? What form do your thoughts tend to take (words, images, shapes, etc.)?

Active: Focus on and explore your mental image of something specific (concrete conceptualisation — e.g. imagine a rose) or a particular theme or idea (abstract conceptualisation — contemplate beauty). Or try to empty your mind.

Receptive: Notice the ways in which your brain handles information from your perceptions, your memory and your imagination. Notice how your thoughts recur or change. Become more aware of where your thoughts come from and where they lead. How much do you rely on analysis or instinct?

Active: Seek to think about things in different ways — using different language or perspectives. Bring different ideas together. Conduct a dialogue in your head. Or seek to still your mind altogether.