All Episodes You Are Not Your Thoughts: How to Connect With Your True Self
You Are Not Your Thoughts: How to Connect With Your True Self
Lately, I’ve been questioning the idea that “you are not your thoughts.” In today’s video, I dive into the three layers of our mind: the conscious mind (the always-active thinker), the subconscious mind (where our habits, beliefs, and automatic responses reside), and introduce the self-mind—the true observer that sits between the two.
In This Video, You’ll Learn:
• How the conscious mind continuously analyzes and reacts, often without our full control.
• The role of the subconscious in shaping our habits, beliefs, and basic programming.
• What I call the self-mind—the inner observer that decides which thoughts truly define us.
• How understanding these layers can empower you to reclaim control over your identity.
• A challenge to question your thoughts and choose who you want to be.
The Self-Mind: Discovering the Third Part of Your Mind Beyond Thoughts
In this solo episode I wanted to explore something I believe could completely change the way you see yourself—and the way you navigate your life.
We talk a lot about the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. But there’s a third part—a part most people don’t even realize exists. I call it the Self-Mind.
This isn’t about productivity hacks or business strategy. This is about identity—who you really are, beyond the constant noise of your thoughts and emotions. And if you can grasp this, you can unlock a level of clarity and control that very few people ever experience.
Why Most People Are Trapped in Their Own Minds
Let’s start with the problem.
Most people think they are their thoughts. If they have an angry thought, they are angry. If they have a fearful thought, they are afraid. They identify with every mental image, every fleeting idea, every emotional wave.
But here’s the truth:
You are not your thoughts. You are the awareness behind them.
When you live unconsciously, you get swept up in the constant stream of mental chatter. It’s like being stuck inside a movie without realizing you’re the one in the audience. You forget that you can step back, observe, and choose how to respond.
The Two Minds We Already Know
We’re all familiar with the first two parts of the mind:
The Conscious Mind – This is your thinking, analytical part. It processes information, makes plans, solves problems.
The Subconscious Mind – This runs in the background, handling automatic functions and storing your habits, memories, and beliefs.
Most self-development advice stops there. It teaches you how to reprogram your subconscious and sharpen your conscious mind. That’s useful, but it’s not complete.
Because there’s a part of you that’s beyond both—and that’s where the real magic happens.
The Self-Mind: The Third Part of Your Mind
The Self-Mind is the observer. It’s the part of you that’s aware of your thoughts without being entangled in them.
It’s the stillness behind the noise, the clarity behind the confusion.
When you tap into the Self-Mind, you stop being reactive. You stop letting your mind dictate your identity. Instead, you become the one who decides what to engage with, what to release, and what to create.
In the episode, I explained it this way:
“If the conscious mind is the driver and the subconscious is the engine, the Self-Mind is the map and the destination—it’s the part of you that knows where you’re really supposed to go.”
Why the Self-Mind Matters for Leadership
If you’re a leader, an entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to live intentionally, learning to operate from the Self-Mind is non-negotiable.
Because here’s the thing—when you’re constantly caught up in the conscious or subconscious loops, you’re reacting based on programming, past experiences, and emotional triggers.
But leadership requires vision. Vision requires space. And space only comes when you step back into the awareness of the Self-Mind.
That’s when you stop making fear-based decisions. That’s when you stop getting hijacked by frustration, ego, or insecurity.
The Enemy of the Self-Mind: Identification
The biggest obstacle to experiencing the Self-Mind is identification—the belief that you are your thoughts.
Every time you say, “I am anxious,” instead of “I am experiencing anxiety,” you’re merging yourself with the emotion. You’re letting it define you.
The same goes for beliefs. If you believe, “I’m bad at business,” that’s not the truth—it’s just a thought your mind has repeated enough times that it feels true.
When you stop identifying with these mental patterns, you create distance. And in that space, you find freedom.
How to Access the Self-Mind
In the episode, I shared practical ways to start experiencing the Self-Mind—not as an abstract concept, but as a real, felt state.
1. Observation Without Judgment
Set aside five minutes each day to simply observe your thoughts. Don’t try to change them. Don’t follow them down the rabbit hole. Just notice them come and go, like clouds passing through the sky.
This simple practice trains you to see yourself as the observer, not the storm.
2. Language Shifts
Start replacing “I am” statements with “I am experiencing.”
Instead of “I am stressed,” say “I am experiencing stress.”
Instead of “I am tired,” say “I am experiencing tiredness.”
It may sound small, but this shift in language builds the habit of separating your identity from your temporary state.
3. Pause Before Reaction
When something triggers you—an email, a comment, a business setback—pause. Take three deep breaths before responding.
In that pause, you give the Self-Mind a chance to take the wheel, instead of letting your automatic programming react for you.
The Self-Mind in Action: Real-Life Examples
I gave a few examples in the episode of how operating from the Self-Mind changes everything:
In business: Instead of panicking over a problem, you approach it with calm clarity, seeing solutions you would have missed in a reactive state.
In relationships: You stop escalating conflicts because you recognize your emotional triggers before they take over.
In personal growth: You stop beating yourself up over mistakes, because you see them as events—not as proof of who you are.
This is more than mindfulness—it’s the foundation for emotional mastery.
Why Most People Will Never Experience This
Here’s the hard truth: most people will never operate from the Self-Mind for long, if at all.
Why? Because it requires stillness. And stillness is uncomfortable.
It’s much easier to stay distracted, to keep the mental noise running, to avoid the quiet voice of awareness that might challenge your current life choices.
But if you want to lead yourself and others with integrity, you have to face that discomfort.
The Competitive Advantage of Self-Mind Awareness
In business and in life, the person who can stay centered while everyone else is reacting will always have the advantage.
While others are busy fighting fires, you’re calmly steering the ship. While others are overwhelmed by fear, you’re able to see the opportunity in the chaos.
Operating from the Self-Mind isn’t just a spiritual practice—it’s a strategic one.
Your Challenge This Week
Here’s the exercise I gave my listeners, and I’m giving it to you:
For the next seven days, notice when you’re identifying with your thoughts.
When you catch yourself saying “I am” about a temporary state, shift it to “I am experiencing.”
At least once a day, take five minutes to observe your thoughts without judgment.
Do this, and you’ll start to feel the separation between you and your thoughts. That’s the first step toward living from the Self-Mind.
Closing Thoughts
The conscious mind and the subconscious mind are powerful tools—but they are not you.
When you realize there’s a third part—the Self-Mind—you unlock the ability to live from a place of clarity, power, and truth.
In a noisy world, the ability to step back into awareness is rare. And rare is valuable.
So don’t just think about this concept—experience it. Practice it. Live it.
Because the day you stop being owned by your thoughts is the day you start truly leading your life.
Welcome to the Champion Minutes Podcast, where we embark on a daily journey of personal growth and empowerment with your host, Chris Beane. Each episode delivers bite-sized insights, actionable strategies, and inspiring stories to help you unlock your full potential and become the champion of your own life. Join Chris as he shares practical tips, mindset shifts, and expert advice to cultivate resilience, achieve your goals, and live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Tune in daily to fuel your motivation, elevate your mindset, and unleash the champion within. Get ready to transform your life, one minute at a time.
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Lately, I’ve been pondering a question: Why are so many of the great thinkers from history, and where are the great thinkers today? In this video, I share my ideas on how our modern lifestyle—bombarded by constant information, endless scrolling, and the lure of quick amusement—can hinder deep, creative thinking. I compare the rich, reflective past of ancient thinkers (who gazed at the stars and wrote in books) to our present-day habit of chasing dopamine hits from our screens. And I challenge you to put your phone down, take a moment to think, and reclaim your capacity for deep thought.
In This Video, You’ll Discover:
• The contrast between ancient amusement (deep pondering) and today’s superficial distractions.
• How constant connectivity and the rise of AI may be limiting our creative potential.
• Why “amusement” today often means not thinking at all—and why that matters.
• A personal challenge: carve out time to sit quietly, reflect, and let your own great ideas shine.
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