I recently came across a series of sculptures by Thomas Leroy, aptly titled “The Weight of Thoughts.” The haunting imagery struck a chord with me, prompting deep reflection on the sheer mental burden we carry each day.
From the moment we wake up to the moment we drift into sleep, our thoughts remain our constant companions—dictating our reactions, shaping our emotions, and influencing every decision we make. Over time, they accumulate, feeding off our energy, growing heavier, and multiplying until even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. A trivial decision—choosing between a white or blue shirt—can suddenly seem insurmountable.
This mental exhaustion, often labeled as stress or anxiety, has become the silent epidemic of our generation. Yet, here’s the hard truth: we are the ones who create this weight. We hold on to negative emotions, limiting beliefs, and inner conflicts, allowing them to drain our energy and dictate our state of mind. We give space to self-criticism, guilt, fear, and regret, permitting them to fester until they become unbearable burdens.
Jill Bolte Taylor, in her book Stroke of Insight, explains a profound neurological truth:
“When a person has a reaction to something in their environment, there’s a 90-second chemical process that happens in the body. After that, any remaining emotional response is just the person choosing to stay in that emotional loop.”
This means that after the initial 90 seconds of an emotional trigger, any lingering stress, anger, or fear is a result of our own mental reinforcement. We replay scenarios, relive past hurts, and worry about the unknown—trapping ourselves in an endless loop of negativity.
Yes, thinking is natural. But overthinking can be destructive. The real question is: Are you willing to let these thoughts continue occupying valuable mental space?
Will you choose to remain shackled by the past or paralyzed by an uncertain future?
Or will you take a deep breath, acknowledge these thoughts for what they are—temporary challenges—and release them, making room for clarity, peace, and growth?
The weight of your thoughts is yours to carry, but it is also yours to put down.
