Can We Control Our Thoughts and Avoid Negative Thinking?

Can we control our thoughts and avoid negative thinking?

The answer is an unequivocal yes, although it may be more challenging at certain times or due to specific trials. A person can control their thoughts and is also commanded to do so. If needed, emotional therapy can help achieve this.

A Jew is Commanded to Control Their Thoughts

A Jew is obligated to monitor their thoughts. The Torah commands, "Do not follow after your heart and eyes" (Numbers 15:39). The Torah instructs a person not to follow the heart, which commentators interpret as thoughts, and not to follow the eyes, meaning not to let them see improper sights. Forbidden sights damage the soul.

At first glance, the command not to follow the heart seems puzzling. The commandment not to follow "after your eyes" is understandable, as limiting what the eyes see seems possible. You can close your eyes or look away, thus controlling vision. But "after your heart"? Can we even control our thoughts? Yes! The law requires one to control their thoughts. (Of course, if a negative thought comes and is immediately dismissed, one is not punished for it unless they consciously continue to entertain it.)

If the Torah demands that a person control their thoughts, it must be possible!

We have no greater evidence than the Torah's demand for thought control. If the Torah commands control over thoughts, it indicates the possibility because who commands this? Hashem who created us and knows our capabilities, "Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world" (Zohar, Parashat Terumah). Hashem created the world including our body, soul, and spirit according to the Torah, so if He commanded in His Torah to guard our thoughts, it indicates our psychological and spiritual makeup is equipped for this.

Hashem demands every Jew to control their thoughts, because a Jew is capable of doing so! We differ from animals in our power of speech and thought, in the power of choice we possess.

Humans Have Free Will

Some people are naturally more optimistic, but everyone has free will, the choice to focus on positive and happy thoughts or to choose negativity and bad thoughts. Regardless of one's nature, trials exist for everyone and working on this is universal. Some might find it easier to think positive, while others need to work harder at it, yet the task of fostering positive thinking is for everyone.

We have the power to choose to control our thoughts as Hashem desires, to become truly free individuals, for there is no free person but one who does the will of Hashem (based on Avot 6:2).

We Have the Power to Control Thoughts

Every person can control their thoughts, and this is the means by which they use the brain - intellect - to rule over the heart and liver. This way, they control themselves.

A person comprises three levels: brain, heart, liver. The brain is responsible for thoughts and intellect. The heart governs emotions, and the liver governs desires.

For someone whose liver rules over their heart and brain, the order is liver, heart, brain - an acronym for "kalem" meaning empty.

For someone whose heart rules over their brain and liver, the order is heart, brain, liver - an acronym for "leim" indicating lacking intellect.

A person whose brain rules over the heart and liver has intellect reigning over emotions and desires, guiding everything through the brain and thought - their order is brain, heart, liver - an acronym for "melech" meaning king - they are the true ruler, mastering their inclination.

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