Author David Deida says that 99% of thinking is repetitive and pointless. On examination of my own mind, I agree, and the realisation that most of my thoughts are bullshit and that I don't have to believe their narrative has made me happier.

Try noticing the contents of your thoughts, several times per day, then ask yourself the following questions:

• For what % of your day are you actually present, engaged fully in what you're doing?

• What % of your day is spent on auto-pilot, lost in thought?

• What % of those thoughts are novel or interesting?

• What % of your thoughts are deliberate or intentional, addressing interesting topics or questions that you wish to consider?

• What % are focused on you, on egoic desires, needs, likes and dislikes, stories of how "it should have been different", what you'll say to him next time, etc?

• What % are actually worth thinking?

You will probably realise that your head, too, is full of bullshit.

But being aware of that frees you. You no longer have to believe the thoughts. Notice them come and go, try labelling them as 'thinking'. Next time the voice in your head criticises or complains, try this: just don't believe it.

Eckhart Tolle calls compulsive thinking a 'disease of the human mind', and it's hard to disagree.

Our minds are more full and active than ever, constantly stimulated by electronic gadgets, never given a second's rest except to sleep.

For many of us it would be impossible to just sit in silence without thinking for even 2 minutes. But if you can, it's a beautiful experience, just to be without doing, without planning, analysing, strategising, lost in past or future.

Try it.