The Paradox of Thought: How to Think About Thinking by Ryan C. Neal, MD

I recently stumbled across a striking quote in Joseph Nguyen’s book Don’t Believe Everything You Think — a fascinating short read that just might shift the way you perceive your own mind. The quote?

“Thoughts create. Thinking destroys.”

These two, 2-word sentences stopped me mid-read. How could this possibly be true?

I’ve built my life around thinking. I think about my thoughts. I analyze. I problem-solve. I reflect.

If thoughts are separate from thinking, then what have I been doing all these years?

Nguyen’s argument is compelling: thinking, when left unchecked, breeds stress, suffering, and an unnecessary layer of mental noise. I’ve touched on this in The Gift of The7Realms, where I explore how our subconscious thought patterns are often negative by default — wired by our past wounds, fears, and ego-driven narratives.

But to say that thinking itself is destructive? That felt like a stretch.

After all, I’ve spent years training as a physician, a profession rooted in rigorous thinking.

Every day, I analyze symptoms, diagnose conditions, and strategize treatments. I think about my patients’ recovery, their outcomes, their lives. If thinking is inherently destructive, then how could I trust the very process that has shaped my expertise and guided my decisions?

Then, I looked deeper.

Nguyen isn’t condemning all thinking.

He’s pointing out that subconscious, reactive, and fear-based thinking — the kind filtered through our ego and unresolved inner wounds — leads to unnecessary suffering. It’s the kind of thinking that keeps us trapped in cycles of worry, self-doubt, and stress.

But here’s the key: thinking isn’t the problem. It’s the level of consciousness from which we think.

When we think from lower consciousness — where ego, fear, and past traumas dictate our mental landscape — we spiral into self-limiting beliefs, over analysis, and stress.

This is what I call spiritual entropy — when our unchecked thoughts lead to inner chaos.

However, when we elevate our thinking into higher consciousness, something shifts.

Thought becomes creation. Thinking becomes clarity.

Instead of being ruled by subconscious fears, we align with purpose, wisdom, and divine awareness.

Through mindfulness and meditation, we transcend reactive thinking and enter a space where thought is infused with love, peace, joy, and gratitude.

This is the difference between thinking and knowing.

When we’re caught in overthinking, we lose trust in ourselves and our intuition. We analyze, doubt, and stress over decisions.

But when we elevate our thinking, we move into a realm where we know — not through logic alone, but through a deep alignment with our higher self.

In this space, thoughts aren’t just passive reflections; they are creative forces, shaping our reality.

So, while I deeply respect Nguyen’s perspective, I offer a slightly different take:

Thinking itself isn’t the enemy.

The real danger lies in how we think.

If we let our thoughts be governed by fear, doubt, and ego, then yes — thinking destroys.

But when we cultivate a practice of mindful awareness, we transform our thoughts into powerful forces of creation, elevating not just ourselves, but the world around us.

In the end, the choice is ours: Will we allow thinking to destroy us, or will we rise above it and create something greater?

This is why mindfulness and meditation are more than just practices — they are pathways to conscious thinking.

Through intentional awareness, we can harness the power of thought, transcend the pitfalls of overthinking, and step into a space where our mind becomes a tool for expansion rather than destruction.

So, the next time you find yourself lost in thought, ask yourself: Am I thinking from fear, or am I thinking from creation?

Because the answer will determine whether your mind is working against you — or unlocking the infinite potential within you.