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The Joy of Not Thinking: A Radical Approach to Happiness
Discover the Joy of Not Thinking...
When I was sixteen, I had a mental breakdown. It happened while I was on vacation in the Caribbean with my family. I’d been reading an old Zen book, and it did me in. I’d experienced some strange mental states before, but this was different. As I read this book, death moved to the foreground of all my thoughts—and then stayed there. I found myself in a tropical paradise, terrified. Living seemed too cruel to carry on with. Buddha had said all life was suffering and all that meant was that everything was hopeless. There was no way out. Escape was impossible. When you looked at things soberly, it was obvious. Life, inevitably, was really just suffering and death.
I kept this anxiety to myself as best I could. There was nothing to say anyway. No one could help. I was helpless, mortified, but aware that I was unable to do anything about it. The stress began to wear on my body. It felt worse and worse. I would have killed myself right there if death didn’t scare me even more than life. I reasoned if I killed myself at least this particular suffering would be over.
These feelings peaked and then went on, and on, and on. At some point, I took a drive with my family to a beach on the other side of the island. It was bad. My insides felt as if they were being torn out. I didn’t understand what was happening. I felt like vomiting but couldn’t. Finally, we arrived at the beach. I sat under a tree, in the shade, trying to act sane.
And then I thought I died.
Something happened and then nothing. And then there was something again. I don’t know. Was I dead? I looked around and realized I wasn’t. I was on the beach, under a tree. But there was no “I.” Everything was different. Everything had dropped off. Where was “I”? I didn’t exist. What was happening? What was this? It was indescribable. You couldn’t describe this. Any description was pointless. Everything was perfect just as it was, but at the same time, it wasn’t that. Because there was no everything. There was nothing at all. There was no need to describe anything ever again because there was nothing. Words and description were meaningless. Nothing was real. Nothing mattered!
And this was, undoubtedly, the best news possible. The greatest realization I could wish to have. Yet that couldn’t begin to explain how good this was. It was way beyond any conception I could come up with. Everything, and everybody, was saved. That was clear. Everything was fine—now and forever. Nothing needed to be done, ever. The whole thing—life, death, reality, individuality, good, bad, right, wrong—was a lie. An illusion. A sham. Everything just was—just is.
And this was perfection, beyond any belief, rationalization or label I could ever put on it. It made no sense, and it was perfect. It was before time itself. It transcended thought, was past my comprehension. Thought created all this suffering—and thought itself was not real. Without thought, all was grace—always. It was all blissfully and blatantly simple, yet totally illogical. I sat on that beach, thunderstruck. It was laughable. Whatever you thought, it didn’t matter. Thought had nothing to do with anything real. Everything was always perfect, no matter what you thought…
When I was sixteen, I had a mental breakdown. It happened while I was on vacation in the Caribbean with my family. I’d been reading an old Zen book, and it did me in. I’d experienced some strange mental states before, but this was different. As I read this book, death moved to the foreground of all my thoughts—and then stayed there. I found myself in a tropical paradise, terrified. Living seemed too cruel to carry on with. Buddha had said all life was suffering and all that meant was that everything was hopeless. There was no way out. Escape was impossible. When you looked at things soberly, it was obvious. Life, inevitably, was really just suffering and death.
I kept this anxiety to myself as best I could. There was nothing to say anyway. No one could help. I was helpless, mortified, but aware that I was unable to do anything about it. The stress began to wear on my body. It felt worse and worse. I would have killed myself right there if death didn’t scare me even more than life. I reasoned if I killed myself at least this particular suffering would be over.
These feelings peaked and then went on, and on, and on. At some point, I took a drive with my family to a beach on the other side of the island. It was bad. My insides felt as if they were being torn out. I didn’t understand what was happening. I felt like vomiting but couldn’t. Finally, we arrived at the beach. I sat under a tree, in the shade, trying to act sane.
And then I thought I died.
Something happened and then nothing. And then there was something again. I don’t know. Was I dead? I looked around and realized I wasn’t. I was on the beach, under a tree. But there was no “I.” Everything was different. Everything had dropped off. Where was “I”? I didn’t exist. What was happening? What was this? It was indescribable. You couldn’t describe this. Any description was pointless. Everything was perfect just as it was, but at the same time, it wasn’t that. Because there was no everything. There was nothing at all. There was no need to describe anything ever again because there was nothing. Words and description were meaningless. Nothing was real. Nothing mattered!
And this was, undoubtedly, the best news possible. The greatest realization I could wish to have. Yet that couldn’t begin to explain how good this was. It was way beyond any conception I could come up with. Everything, and everybody, was saved. That was clear. Everything was fine—now and forever. Nothing needed to be done, ever. The whole thing—life, death, reality, individuality, good, bad, right, wrong—was a lie. An illusion. A sham. Everything just was—just is.
And this was perfection, beyond any belief, rationalization or label I could ever put on it. It made no sense, and it was perfect. It was before time itself. It transcended thought, was past my comprehension. Thought created all this suffering—and thought itself was not real. Without thought, all was grace—always. It was all blissfully and blatantly simple, yet totally illogical. I sat on that beach, thunderstruck. It was laughable. Whatever you thought, it didn’t matter. Thought had nothing to do with anything real. Everything was always perfect, no matter what you thought…
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
631 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 15, 2019
Don't think!
A short self-help book about the power of now(not thinking) by Tim Grimes. His explanations are clear and right to the point. Basically, he explains how to reduce overthinking and enjoy the moment by stopping being serious and be more playful with ourselves.
A short self-help book about the power of now(not thinking) by Tim Grimes. His explanations are clear and right to the point. Basically, he explains how to reduce overthinking and enjoy the moment by stopping being serious and be more playful with ourselves.
When our mind really quiets down, we inadvertently drop into profound stillness and peace. We automatically realize that everything is already fine exactly as it is. Everything is fine already. Everything is perfect. There’s nothing you need to do. ...everything already is perfect, what are we trying to transcend anyway?
January 16, 2021
This is one of those very short (63 page) books which makes a good point, but it does so in a very problematic way which undermines the value of the entire book.
What the book gets right is telling people that they can make themselves unhappy by ‘overthinking’ (Kindle 15%). Doing so causes avoidable stress and worry (69%). The book recommends strategies such as distracting yourself with physical activities (31%) or ‘vibing out,’ doing meditative style exercises of not-thinking (81%).
Yes, people can overthink and get themselves caught in negative thinking patterns, so this could be sound advice (depending on circumstances).
But the book expresses itself with two further claims which are very problematic.
Firstly its solution to the extreme of over-thinking, is to go to the opposite extreme of telling people that they should just stop thinking. We are told to not be ‘logical’ or ‘serious’ (17%). We should abandon the search for ‘rational solutions’ as a better more excellent one might occur (66%). Ultimately, ‘trying hard is stupid, thinking hard is dumb’ (19%), so we should only think, when we feel like it (20%).
This is the very essence of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The solution to over-thinking is learning to think appropriately, not just abandoning thinking. At times the author almost recognises this, telling readers to ‘keep your wits about you’ (93%). But how can you do that, if you just stop thinking?
What the book should have done is set out some criteria for when to avoid over-thinking. But it doesn’t do so. If we did have criteria, then it would rapidly become clear that people cannot just stop thinking, as it would always be necessary to think about when to apply the criteria.
A second set of problems arises because the book tries to use a New Age style philosophy to justify its points. It insists that nothing exists (43%) except thoughts (89%). It tells us that the world only seems screwed up because we think it is (31%). We’re told that we ‘selves’ do not exist (44%) and there’s no such thing as illness (52%) as pain and suffering is all due to your own thinking.
Those kinds of ideas are just wrong. And dangerously wrong. Are we really going to dismiss the idea that there’s no such thing as poverty, racism, crime (etc), by treating it all as just a form of bad thinking? How can anyone who has witnessed the horrors of plagues, famines and wars really believe the author's claims that the world is ‘perfect as it is’ (5%) and that you’re fine as you are (16%). Sometimes people really aren’t fine and it can be insultingly patronising to tell them that they are, especially when the solution is supposedly that they learn to think better about their situation, and all their suffering will then disappear.
Ultimately, the book makes a sensible point about over-thinking. But its recommended strategies to avoid that problem are so problematic that the cure becomes potentially worse than the problem it is trying to deal with.
What the book gets right is telling people that they can make themselves unhappy by ‘overthinking’ (Kindle 15%). Doing so causes avoidable stress and worry (69%). The book recommends strategies such as distracting yourself with physical activities (31%) or ‘vibing out,’ doing meditative style exercises of not-thinking (81%).
Yes, people can overthink and get themselves caught in negative thinking patterns, so this could be sound advice (depending on circumstances).
But the book expresses itself with two further claims which are very problematic.
Firstly its solution to the extreme of over-thinking, is to go to the opposite extreme of telling people that they should just stop thinking. We are told to not be ‘logical’ or ‘serious’ (17%). We should abandon the search for ‘rational solutions’ as a better more excellent one might occur (66%). Ultimately, ‘trying hard is stupid, thinking hard is dumb’ (19%), so we should only think, when we feel like it (20%).
This is the very essence of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The solution to over-thinking is learning to think appropriately, not just abandoning thinking. At times the author almost recognises this, telling readers to ‘keep your wits about you’ (93%). But how can you do that, if you just stop thinking?
What the book should have done is set out some criteria for when to avoid over-thinking. But it doesn’t do so. If we did have criteria, then it would rapidly become clear that people cannot just stop thinking, as it would always be necessary to think about when to apply the criteria.
A second set of problems arises because the book tries to use a New Age style philosophy to justify its points. It insists that nothing exists (43%) except thoughts (89%). It tells us that the world only seems screwed up because we think it is (31%). We’re told that we ‘selves’ do not exist (44%) and there’s no such thing as illness (52%) as pain and suffering is all due to your own thinking.
Those kinds of ideas are just wrong. And dangerously wrong. Are we really going to dismiss the idea that there’s no such thing as poverty, racism, crime (etc), by treating it all as just a form of bad thinking? How can anyone who has witnessed the horrors of plagues, famines and wars really believe the author's claims that the world is ‘perfect as it is’ (5%) and that you’re fine as you are (16%). Sometimes people really aren’t fine and it can be insultingly patronising to tell them that they are, especially when the solution is supposedly that they learn to think better about their situation, and all their suffering will then disappear.
Ultimately, the book makes a sensible point about over-thinking. But its recommended strategies to avoid that problem are so problematic that the cure becomes potentially worse than the problem it is trying to deal with.
December 15, 2019
Great book
Didn't think that i would take so much from this tiny book. Recommend for everyone . Must-read once a year at least.
Didn't think that i would take so much from this tiny book. Recommend for everyone . Must-read once a year at least.
February 19, 2020
Simple
I’d write more about this book but then I’d be thinking too much. It was really truly great. Really. I’m not kidding.
I’d write more about this book but then I’d be thinking too much. It was really truly great. Really. I’m not kidding.
October 28, 2019
A couple of common sense ideas
I liked the brevity of this book and also it’s easy to read conversational style. As for the actual pointers, they’re relatively easy enough to try out in any situation. Ultimately, I feel these pointers are more like quick fix solutions rather than serious attempts to strike at the core of suffering. Still, they may benefit some in terms of lightening the load along the way. Short easy read.
I liked the brevity of this book and also it’s easy to read conversational style. As for the actual pointers, they’re relatively easy enough to try out in any situation. Ultimately, I feel these pointers are more like quick fix solutions rather than serious attempts to strike at the core of suffering. Still, they may benefit some in terms of lightening the load along the way. Short easy read.
October 25, 2022
Simple and magnificent advice!
Now just to put it into practice, which we humans find so difficult. WHY? Because as this book points out, we have to complicate EVERYTHING. We believe, (as I have been brought up) that we have to work hard and study and gain certificates and recognition and brownie points and discover THE HIDDEN ANSWERS! NOOOOOOO!
I've exhausted myself trying to ' get it right.' Procrastinated all my life, ( now 60) in the hope that I will be as good as the imaginary people in my head, that always get it right and have discovered the answers? As my sister said, we are forever chasing rainbows. THEN IT HIT ME.
No perfect to be discovered, no answer to be discovered. Just possibilities.
NOW is perfect if you can just stop trying and JUST BE.
Be thankful for what you have. Believe me, I have had moments when I would have read these words and thought 'YEAH RIGHT, HAVE A TASTE OF MY LIFE AND SAY THAT!'
Life is no walk in the park. There are bloody big craters and mountains to climb. BUT, it's taking moments to sit on the bench and look around and rest.
I can rest and appreciate my life NOW. I can stop climbing and spending huge amounts of energy on the journey and the fear of falling! RELIEF!
Thank you Tim.
Now just to put it into practice, which we humans find so difficult. WHY? Because as this book points out, we have to complicate EVERYTHING. We believe, (as I have been brought up) that we have to work hard and study and gain certificates and recognition and brownie points and discover THE HIDDEN ANSWERS! NOOOOOOO!
I've exhausted myself trying to ' get it right.' Procrastinated all my life, ( now 60) in the hope that I will be as good as the imaginary people in my head, that always get it right and have discovered the answers? As my sister said, we are forever chasing rainbows. THEN IT HIT ME.
No perfect to be discovered, no answer to be discovered. Just possibilities.
NOW is perfect if you can just stop trying and JUST BE.
Be thankful for what you have. Believe me, I have had moments when I would have read these words and thought 'YEAH RIGHT, HAVE A TASTE OF MY LIFE AND SAY THAT!'
Life is no walk in the park. There are bloody big craters and mountains to climb. BUT, it's taking moments to sit on the bench and look around and rest.
I can rest and appreciate my life NOW. I can stop climbing and spending huge amounts of energy on the journey and the fear of falling! RELIEF!
Thank you Tim.
April 10, 2020
I enjoyed this short read and its counterintuitive approach to happiness. It’s both deeply spiritual and quite simple at the same time.
Despite its brevity, it provides good value in the sense that its teachings are radical enough to inspire change. I say “radical” in the societal sense — such teachings are easy to implement, just far different from what society preaches as the pathways to happiness.
I will do my best not to spoil the content for you, but it all boils down to the title: The Joy of Not Thinking. Thus, the book is an exploration of that concept and a portrayal of what happens when we think too much. And, as you probably guessed, doing so is not usually a good thing.
My only critique of the book is that at times it almost sounds like it’s preaching pure passivity in life. Yes, stillness and non-thinking are very important, but so is balance. In order to get that balance, we also need a little bit of striving and passion alongside said stillness.
Overall, however, it’s pretty solid. Give it a spin!
-Brian Sachetta
Author of “Get Out of Your Head: A Toolkit for Living with and Overcoming Anxiety”
Despite its brevity, it provides good value in the sense that its teachings are radical enough to inspire change. I say “radical” in the societal sense — such teachings are easy to implement, just far different from what society preaches as the pathways to happiness.
I will do my best not to spoil the content for you, but it all boils down to the title: The Joy of Not Thinking. Thus, the book is an exploration of that concept and a portrayal of what happens when we think too much. And, as you probably guessed, doing so is not usually a good thing.
My only critique of the book is that at times it almost sounds like it’s preaching pure passivity in life. Yes, stillness and non-thinking are very important, but so is balance. In order to get that balance, we also need a little bit of striving and passion alongside said stillness.
Overall, however, it’s pretty solid. Give it a spin!
-Brian Sachetta
Author of “Get Out of Your Head: A Toolkit for Living with and Overcoming Anxiety”
November 17, 2020
I was skeptical when I got a recommendation from Kindle. The first 10 pages makes me nervous since it keep saying "don't think..." meanwhile my thought says "Keep thinking!".
But the more I read through pages, I feel like the author is talking directly to me and just casually says "hey... you'll just be in the doctor's place for 10 minutes, yet your thought stays in your head for three weeks. So don't think". It's a short and refreshing book. Very entertaining and joyful to read.
Relax, and read this book :) Happiness isn't as euphoric as we thought.
But the more I read through pages, I feel like the author is talking directly to me and just casually says "hey... you'll just be in the doctor's place for 10 minutes, yet your thought stays in your head for three weeks. So don't think". It's a short and refreshing book. Very entertaining and joyful to read.
Relax, and read this book :) Happiness isn't as euphoric as we thought.
December 4, 2020
Life-changing Message
Really Really LOVE this book! Found it as I've been stuck/mired in overthinking several relationship "problems" and at a point of truly feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and ultimately crazy over what to do about any of them. Actually feeling guilty if I'm NOT thinking about them, resulting in deeper stuckness and craziness. The information in this book makes so much sense to me I can't wait to begin not thinking, being less serious and free to be at peace and enjoy life! Thank you Mr. Grimes!!!!!
Really Really LOVE this book! Found it as I've been stuck/mired in overthinking several relationship "problems" and at a point of truly feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and ultimately crazy over what to do about any of them. Actually feeling guilty if I'm NOT thinking about them, resulting in deeper stuckness and craziness. The information in this book makes so much sense to me I can't wait to begin not thinking, being less serious and free to be at peace and enjoy life! Thank you Mr. Grimes!!!!!
October 2, 2020
Contrast and yet aligned with buddhism
This book is really interesting. It's not long so I finish it in just one sitting. The content is exactly the title. Don't think of you dont want to be sad.
For some reason I think the writer reads Buddhist book. And yet he refutes the Buddhist main teaching that life is suffering. And I like it.
As long as we are not addicted to continuous happiness, I actually think that we can be happy.
This book is really interesting. It's not long so I finish it in just one sitting. The content is exactly the title. Don't think of you dont want to be sad.
For some reason I think the writer reads Buddhist book. And yet he refutes the Buddhist main teaching that life is suffering. And I like it.
As long as we are not addicted to continuous happiness, I actually think that we can be happy.
January 3, 2023
Awesome
Not thinking sound awesome, i love the way Tim explains it and makes you see that its not the same as "not thinking" and you run into the wall. This "not thinking" and not talking life so seriously brings you peace and i am learning that this suggestion is on point. I've started watching more Anime and vibing out...so freaking peaceful
Not thinking sound awesome, i love the way Tim explains it and makes you see that its not the same as "not thinking" and you run into the wall. This "not thinking" and not talking life so seriously brings you peace and i am learning that this suggestion is on point. I've started watching more Anime and vibing out...so freaking peaceful
May 23, 2023
A time for everything, and nothing
It was once said by a sports coach “Don’t think, do something “. And being in the final of his sport with his team down. Well that was the right action to encourage at that point.
There is also a time not to think, nor do, but do
nothing . Be still .
This is the joy of not thinking .
It was once said by a sports coach “Don’t think, do something “. And being in the final of his sport with his team down. Well that was the right action to encourage at that point.
There is also a time not to think, nor do, but do
nothing . Be still .
This is the joy of not thinking .
July 6, 2020
I thought it was an informative book and had some good ideas for not thinking.... I've hightlited some information that I hopefully can go back to when I get too lost in thought.
'twas a short enjoyable read
'twas a short enjoyable read
August 5, 2020
It's such a short book - all of 65 pages - yet I found it to be lengthy. The author could easily have made all his points in about 20 pages.
The author makes some very good points, which all of us may have inadvertently tried many a time before.
The author makes some very good points, which all of us may have inadvertently tried many a time before.
Read
February 10, 2021Thinking is not the right use of our brain. Thinking will cause emotional up and down and usually the root cause of anxiety comes from thinking too much. This book strategy can be combined with "the power of now" and "Zen" to create the most PRESENT moment.
May 5, 2020
It’s a very short book, so go ahead and read it. Simple ideas that are common sense but probably would help. A lot of times we need to be reminded about common sense.
May 18, 2020
Great book
I wish I had read this book 35 years ago. Well written, interesting, thought provoking (pun intended...) Part Syd Banks, part Abraham-Hicks, good way to live.
I wish I had read this book 35 years ago. Well written, interesting, thought provoking (pun intended...) Part Syd Banks, part Abraham-Hicks, good way to live.
August 30, 2020
Enjoyable and t ought provoking
I enjoyed this book. It made given me food for thought and made some interesting points. Was worth the read.
I enjoyed this book. It made given me food for thought and made some interesting points. Was worth the read.
October 27, 2020
Brilliant book, really enjoyed reading it!
An excellent easy short read with some really great techniques to test out! Will be trying them out in my day-to-day life, thank you!
An excellent easy short read with some really great techniques to test out! Will be trying them out in my day-to-day life, thank you!
December 2, 2020
Good advice or no advice
A simple read for a simple solution. Fun. It will make you get In touch with your inner child and remind you how perfect your life really is.
A simple read for a simple solution. Fun. It will make you get In touch with your inner child and remind you how perfect your life really is.
December 7, 2020
Just do it
Trimmings removed, complexities dumped, straight to the point and spot on!loved it.Make it easy,buy a copy,does what it says on the tin!
Trimmings removed, complexities dumped, straight to the point and spot on!loved it.Make it easy,buy a copy,does what it says on the tin!
December 8, 2020
Short and sweet.
It sounds absurd but in practice it does seem to work. I'm not much for new age esoteric mysticism so this fits right in with my philosophy. Worth a read
It sounds absurd but in practice it does seem to work. I'm not much for new age esoteric mysticism so this fits right in with my philosophy. Worth a read
December 20, 2020
Just a light quick read for a lift up. nothing major or groundbreaking, but its kind of a good reminder to verbalize the concepts simply.
March 23, 2021
Quick, effective reminder about what really matters in life
April 13, 2021
Simple!
If I hadn't once experienced what Tim describes, i'd think this was nonsense. But I have, and it isnt. Definitely helpful to be reminded.
If I hadn't once experienced what Tim describes, i'd think this was nonsense. But I have, and it isnt. Definitely helpful to be reminded.
June 30, 2021
Simple. No BS. Embrace basic and vibe out. Glad to be ready to receive the advice given.
July 13, 2021
Nice layman introduction to the benefits and pragmatics of quenching the function of mental existence.
Bhava Nirodho Nibbanam • Nibbanam Paramam Sukham
Bhava Nirodho Nibbanam • Nibbanam Paramam Sukham
January 27, 2022
Just be
A practical guide to just being, not over thinking, letting go, not complicating your life: Act out, dance, sing and stop being so serious.
A practical guide to just being, not over thinking, letting go, not complicating your life: Act out, dance, sing and stop being so serious.
March 26, 2022
It was really useful and a good reminder that I what to read again
July 30, 2022
On the plus side, a very short book. And drives the point home that if you don't think, you won't worry without wasting too much time with too many examples. On the negative, that's about it. Nothing deeper. But maybe sometimes it's okay to just have one message delivered in a concise way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews