Everybody has probably experienced unwanted or tormenting thoughts. So how do thoughts that a person doesn’t want get into her mind? What is their source?

One possible cause of tormenting thoughts could be a person’s own will, choice, or desire. However, the fact that thoughts are unwanted and unwelcome, rules out that possibility.

Perhaps some unwanted thoughts are produced by heredity (or brain chemistry). Maybe a person is genetically wired to have a self-tormenting mind. However, if a person is genetically programmed to have painful thoughts, why would he fight against his genetics? Why would his genetics work against his mind?

Maybe tormenting thoughts are produced by habit. Perhaps a person has experienced enough trauma in her life that it has now become habitually programmed into her mind. But then again, what about people who haven’t experienced much trauma? Why would they have habitual tormenting thoughts.

There is one other explanation for unwelcome thoughts that has been believed by most human cultures and societies: they are produced by non-material entities. The great psychiatrist, Carl Jung, believed in non-material archetypes that could put thoughts in people’s minds.

Most cultures and religions have attributed tormenting thoughts to demons, spiritual (non-material) beings that are working against the well-being of human beings. However, the modern, Western world, due to an irrational prejudice against non-material reality, has pontificated that demons are impossible.

So where do your unwanted thoughts come from? Are they self-caused? Or are they outside invaders seeking to cause pain and destruction in your life? Your choice of these two beliefs will determine whether you passively surrender to self-destructive thoughts or gallantly fight and overcome them. Choose well.