As students, you’re likely all too familiar with the age-old question posed by humanities teachers: "Interpret the author's intent” or “interpret the meaning of this passage.” Interestingly, the key to analytical interpretation in English class can offer a key into why turning our attention inward might help us reframe our thoughts and how we respond to various situations.
As Hamlet famously said, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." In English class, you might need to contextualize a character’s action within the framework of the time period, storyline or relationship with other characters or overarching themes. In essence, you’re trying to make sense of things. Similarly, our thoughts can largely shape our reality, and how we frame a situation in our own minds will determine the intensity and duration of our emotional response to it.
By practicing turning our attention inward and developing meta-cognition (the awareness that you're thinking and that you're aware of your thoughts), we can create space to reframe our thoughts and emotions in a more positive light. It's like hitting a pause button on our minds, and deep diving into the thought arising without it letting it fully overwhelm you. Rather than rapidly reacting, you can sense how do I want to show up in this moment? What would help right now? When we can then think differently, we can also choose to feel differently.
So, while we may spend a lot of time analyzing and interpreting text, why not take some time to interpret and reframe our own thoughts? After all, I would argue that our minds, thoughts, and emotions deserve just as much attention as any Shakespearean play.