Liberation this time round (with Vivien)

[Vivien]

Hi Tanya,

V: Does the image itself communicate in any way that it’s a me/I?

T: No...wow the image is not a me or I. Quite blown away by this.

Nice :) every time when you look into the mirror, check this again and SEE that the image is not a me or I, and the image doesn’t communicate or identify itself as an I.
This needs to be seen repeatedly to really-really sink in :)

But there is nothing separate from the image of the body. There isn’t the image and something identifying itself AS the body. There is only one not two. There isn’t one that identifies itself as the body. This one can’t be found. It’s not real...doesn’t exist.

Yes, but there is something that is identifying the body as a me. And that is a thought! Or in other words, there is only a thought making the claim that the image or the body is a me.

Just notice how much narration is going on. Whatever is happening thought has something to say about it. It’s constantly weaving stories about everything and everyone.

The story is so well run; the mechanisms are all in place. Thoughts have the tendency to appear as solid truths and it is so enticing to believe each and every one of them.

But are all of our thoughts depicting what is?

Some thoughts point to something, like ‘seeing something’ but other thoughts just point to more thoughts, exploding in a thought merry-go-round. :)

What if instead of thoughts offering solid truths, those explanations are nothing but assumptions? Theories at best?

The identifier is only in thought. The identifier or one who needs to be judged as good by others is only a thought. There is no identifier.

You see.. how intricate the story is around this apparent entity, called Tanya?
Just notice how much detail thoughts provide… but these are just add-ons… just more narrations, explanation, assumptions… in the name of ‘truth’.

Sat with this one for quite a while. At first there was tension/resistance appearing but more this is looked at the more it is seen that there is no one with a need to be judged positively by others.

Ohh yes.. another detail to the story of my life…. Thoughts are just weaving and weaving their own interpretations… just giving more color, more stuff… to what? To nothing?

That one is not found...there is just what is appearing right now. That which is appearing is not good or bad.

Yes, and yet thoughts are almost constantly categorizing what is going on, and providing labels incessantly.
Just notice how much they add to what is… a whole new world emerges out of thin air ;)

That could be what it is. Since our daughter passed away in 2008 I have not felt completely comfortable around others. I don’t have much to say and feel uncomfortable/awkward because of that.Not as uncomfortable as I used to feel as I see I am not responsible for talking or not talking or having something to say or not...well that’s the story belief that comes up anyway.

Have you noticed as soon as there is a perceived other, there is automatically a me here too? They go hand in hand.

Notice any story between me and others. Without a me, there cannot be others. Or, without others, there cannot be a me.

This is a nice trick of thoughts… by being concerned about others, the separation of me and not-me is maintained. Just notice that all fears, concerns or judgments toward others (or on myself when with others) are like invisible wall, or a glass wall, separating me from the other.

Try to imagine a scenario where all the judgments, concerns of others and me are gone… or they are turned into the tweeting of birds. There is only the sense perception. What is left then of this separating wall?
Can the concepts of me and not-me (others) be maintained?

Warmly,
Vivien

[Vivien]

You might notice that my last reply has a different tone. The thing is that you are very good at looking at DE, so you know how to deconstruct. I did the same a lot in the past, but nothing has really changed in my everyday life, since I had ignored looking at a very important thing: the story itself. What I’ve discovered that no matter how much deconstruction I did, if I hadn’t look at the daily narrative itself, how the story is woven, not much could change.

[tanyawilliams86]

You might notice that my last reply has a different tone. The thing is that you are very good at looking at DE, so you know how to deconstruct. I did the same a lot in the past, but nothing has really changed in my everyday life, since I had ignored looking at a very important thing: the story itself. What I’ve discovered that no matter how much deconstruction I did, if I hadn’t look at the daily narrative itself, how the story is woven, not much could change.

Yes I did notice a different approach. I didn't realise I was deconstructing things though. I thought the story didn't need to be looked into really as what is needed to be seen is what the direct experience is. Some how seeing how the narrative is working in daily life helps you see through it...interesting. Thank you for noticing the deconstruction and adjusting the tone in a way that will actually leed to freedom and not to endless seeking <3

[Vivien]

Hi Tanya,

I didn't realise I was deconstructing things though

Seeing that things are in raw experience is a deconstruction. And there is nothing wrong with it, actually, it’s very useful. This is a very helpful tool to see what it is exactly that we take for a separate self. Deconstructing is an important part of the journey.

However, no matter how much we deconstruct the body and see that it’s just the sum of sensations and colors, won’t change all the story around it. Since the problem is not in believing in a solid body, but rather the story around it. What it means to me, how I am perceived through the body, what I can get from others through the body. What beliefs are there about the body, and what those beliefs and judgements means about ME. So the problem is never with the body (or any other thing), but rather with the story ABOUT it. But you will be able to see this soon for yourself. :)

[tanyawilliams86]

Hi Vivien,

V: Does the image itself communicate in any way that it’s a me/I?

T: No...wow the image is not a me or I. Quite blown away by this.

Nice :) every time when you look into the mirror, check this again and SEE that the image is not a me or I, and the image doesn’t communicate or identify itself as an I.
This needs to be seen repeatedly to really-really sink in :)

Will ‘do’. Still amazing to see how thought adds on labels to what is. Nothing is actually labelled anything.

Yes, but there is something that is identifying the body as a me. And that is a thought! Or in other words, there is only a thought making the claim that the image or the body is a me.

Just notice how much narration is going on. Whatever is happening thought has something to say about it. It’s constantly weaving stories about everything and everyone.

The story is so well run; the mechanisms are all in place. Thoughts have the tendency to appear as solid truths and it is so enticing to believe each and every one of them.

But are all of our thoughts depicting what is?

Some thoughts point to something, like ‘seeing something’ but other thoughts just point to more thoughts, exploding in a thought merry-go-round. :)

What if instead of thoughts offering solid truths, those explanations are nothing but assumptions? Theories at best?

It is only a thought claiming the image or the body is me. The image or body is not making that claim.
I’ve really been noticing how much narration is going on today. And usually it’s about something that isn’t even happening or accurate. Thought even says it knows what someone else is thinking about what this body is doing. Thought is a real storyteller.

No, most of the thoughts are not depicting what is. Quite often the thoughts are talking about something that isn’t even present right now. Thoughts are talking about the past or imaginary future (the past is only thought now also) which is not what is.

I am familiar with the thought merry-go-round. That can be torture if the thoughts are believed in and it if it is believed that there is a decision maker that is going to decide which thought to follow and take action on. Thankfully that’s not really an issue anymore.

Yes, thoughts aren’t offering solid truths. Usually thoughts are assumed to telling it like it is. But where’s the proof that what thought is saying is true? Sometimes they are true but thoughts are just randomly spitting out ideas. Mostly thoughts are false.

The identifier is only in thought. The identifier or one who needs to be judged as good by others is only a thought. There is no identifier.

You see.. how intricate the story is around this apparent entity, called Tanya?
Just notice how much detail thoughts provide… but these are just add-ons… just more narrations, explanation, assumptions… in the name of ‘truth’.

Wow, yeah thought adds on details...makes a whole story about the Tanya character. Making up explanations for that which has no details,narrations or assumptions. All these add-ons are learned - they are not original to what I am. How amazing that these thoughts that appear all by themselves make up such an elaborate story.

Ohh yes.. another detail to the story of my life…. Thoughts are just weaving and weaving their own interpretations… just giving more color, more stuff… to what? To nothing?

Great point! What are these thoughts giving more colour,more stuff or interpretation to? The story of ‘my’ life is referring to something that isn’t here...emptiness is a words coming up now to attempt to describe what is seen. The story of ‘my’ life is just thoughts. Seeming to point to something real but it’s not real.

That one is not found...there is just what is appearing right now. That which is appearing is not good or bad.

Yes, and yet thoughts are almost constantly categorizing what is going on, and providing labels incessantly.
Just notice how much they add to what is… a whole new world emerges out of thin air ;)

This is most noticeable when I am somewhere other than my house. Narrating what is apparently happening but is not happening.What actually is has no narration. Would like to keep noticing how much thought adds to what is :)

Maybe there is still deconstruction going on. It’s hard to look at the story when the story is not appearing right now.

Have you noticed as soon as there is a perceived other, there is automatically a me here too? They go hand in hand.

Notice any story between me and others. Without a me, there cannot be others. Or, without others, there cannot be a me.

This is a nice trick of thoughts… by being concerned about others, the separation of me and not-me is maintained. Just notice that all fears, concerns or judgments toward others (or on myself when with others) are like invisible wall, or a glass wall, separating me from the other.

Try to imagine a scenario where all the judgments, concerns of others and me are gone… or they are turned into the tweeting of birds. There is only the sense perception. What is left then of this separating wall?
Can the concepts of me and not-me (others) be maintained?

Yes I have noticed that. Thanks for pointing that out that as soon as you perceive an other there is a ‘me’ too.

What a trick it is. It has pulled the wool over my eyes for sure. Just like trick of the mind/thought that this body is ‘me’. So it is only thought that is assumed to be true that is holding this illusion together?

Imagining all the judgments,concerns of others and me are gone and there is only sense perception. Well the separating wall is hardly even there but there still seems like there is others...moving/walking..looks like there is still a thought story about others going on. Looking again...with all story about others gone and only sense perceptions there is just colours and sounds and those are not separate.

Going by sense perceptions alone the concepts of me and not me can’t be maintained. Would be good to look more at this though.
Separation is only a thought...that is what this investigation is starting to reveal.

Thank you,
Tanya <3

[tanyawilliams86]

I didn't realise I was deconstructing things though

Seeing that things are in raw experience is a deconstruction. And there is nothing wrong with it, actually, it’s very useful. This is a very helpful tool to see what it is exactly that we take for a separate self. Deconstructing is an important part of the journey.

However, no matter how much we deconstruct the body and see that it’s just the sum of sensations and colors, won’t change all the story around it. Since the problem is not in believing in a solid body, but rather the story around it. What it means to me, how I am perceived through the body, what I can get from others through the body. What beliefs are there about the body, and what those beliefs and judgements means about ME. So the problem is never with the body (or any other thing), but rather with the story ABOUT it. But you will be able to see this soon for yourself. :)
[/quote]

That makes sense that the problem is not with the body but the story now that you explain it like that and now that I have been looking at it. I am finding it a little tricky to look at just the story but I am sure it will get easier. I really want to see through the story.

Warmly,
Tanya

[Vivien]

Hi Tanya,

No, most of the thoughts are not depicting what is. Quite often the thoughts are talking about something that isn’t even present right now. Thoughts are talking about the past or imaginary future (the past is only thought now also) which is not what is.

Exactly.

Generally there seem to be two kinds of thoughts:
1. thoughts which content point to something which is directly experienced, now in the moment.
2. thoughts which content point to nothing in DE (direct experience), rather to other thoughts content.

#1 would be ‘There is a table’, or ‘my hands are wet’, or ‘the flower is blooming’ - since something is SEEN at the moment, the thought points to something, even though table / hand / flower is just a label for something SEEN / EXPERIENCED.
#2 would be "I had
dinner last night”, or “she said something nasty to me”, or “I want to be free”, or “I am going to do some shopping tomorrow”, etc.

Now please, gently observe your thoughts, noticing how do their thing, chatting about this and about that, labelling, interpreting, giving meaning to events and things, analysing how things could have done differently, and so on.
While noticing the dance of thoughts, how they go around in loops trying to find verification for their own self-appointed truth…. check for yourself if the above given statement is true.

Are there two ways of thoughts or do you find more? If yes, please do give an example.
Does one set of thoughts point to something in DE and does the other one really points to another thought only?

Please spend a whole day looking at this. Check this again and again throughout your day.

This is most noticeable when I am somewhere other than my house. Narrating what is apparently happening but is not happening.What actually is has no narration.

But the narration is happening. Isn’t the narration present in a form of thoughts?

Thoughts are also part of experience, aren’t they?
When a thought is there, it’s experienced, is it not?

The content is fictional, but the thought itself is real, it’s there, it’s happening. Can you see this?

What a trick it is. It has pulled the wool over my eyes for sure. Just like trick of the mind/thought that this body is ‘me’. So it is only thought that is assumed to be true that is holding this illusion together?

The illusion is created by thoughts. It’s utterly thought-made. That’s why we are digging deep into the story :)

Imagining all the judgments,concerns of others and me are gone and there is only sense perception.

You mean it’s gone in general (nowadays) or it was gone in that moment of looking? I’m asking this because if you say in general, then there might be some things that you are not noticing. If there is any concern about the body, then the program of ‘what others think of me’ is still running.

Just notice that how the body shows up (how it looks) matters because the body is being used on behalf of me to gain something from others. The me uses the body as a means to gain approval, love, acceptance, acknowledgement, etc. from others.

Would like to keep noticing how much thought adds to what is :)

Have you notice how much repetitive thoughts showing up in a day about the body? Playing the same track over and over and over again?
How many times do you have a judging thought about the body?
Or how the body should look like?
Or how others would perceive you if the body were fat or lean?

Take a paper, and watch your thoughts throughout a day. Write down these questions, and make a mark every time when you have a thought belonging to that question.

Can you notice that most of those thoughts are not just repetitive but they are the same word-by-word? Having the same expressions of judgements again and again in a form of habitual thought patterns?

At the end of the day, count your marks.
Now think back, what is your guess, how many times did you have the same or very similar judgments, shoulds and souldn’t-s about the body yesterday?
And what about the last week? Last month? Last year? Last ten years?

Love, Vivien
Vivien

[tanyawilliams86]

Hi Vivien,

Generally there seem to be two kinds of thoughts:
1. thoughts which content point to something which is directly experienced, now in the moment.
2. thoughts which content point to nothing in DE (direct experience), rather to other thoughts content.

#1 would be ‘There is a table’, or ‘my hands are wet’, or ‘the flower is blooming’ - since something is SEEN at the moment, the thought points to something, even though table / hand / flower is just a label for something SEEN / EXPERIENCED.
#2 would be "I had
dinner last night”, or “she said something nasty to me”, or “I want to be free”, or “I am going to do some shopping tomorrow”, etc.

Now please, gently observe your thoughts, noticing how do their thing, chatting about this and about that, labelling, interpreting, giving meaning to events and things, analysing how things could have done differently, and so on.
While noticing the dance of thoughts, how they go around in loops trying to find verification for their own self-appointed truth…. check for yourself if the above given statement is true.

Are there two ways of thoughts or do you find more? If yes, please do give an example.

No there is not more. Interesting how thoughts mainly point to something not in DE.

Does one set of thoughts point to something in DE and does the other one really points to another thought only?

Yes what a good way of putting it. I noticed a thought about avoiding a Zoom call with a couple of new friends because I don’t have much to say. I noticed that this thought had nothing to do with actual direct experience. Amazing how these thoughts come up all by themselves.

It would be good to keep looking at the thoughts not pointing to DE.

This is most noticeable when I am somewhere other than my house. Narrating what is apparently happening but is not happening.What actually is has no narration.

But the narration is happening. Isn’t the narration present in a form of thoughts?

Yes :) I was referring to that which is aware. Seems that which is aware doesn’t say anything.

Thoughts are also part of experience, aren’t they?
When a thought is there, it’s experienced, is it not?

Yeah of course they are :) I can’t deny thoughts are experienced.

The content is fictional, but the thought itself is real, it’s there, it’s happening. Can you see this?

Yes :) some times the content is taken to be non fiction. Yes the thought itself is real. I see that.

Imagining all the judgments,concerns of others and me are gone and there is only sense perception.

You mean it’s gone in general (nowadays) or it was gone in that moment of looking? I’m asking this because if you say in general, then there might be some things that you are not noticing. If there is any concern about the body, then the program of ‘what others think of me’ is still running.

Just notice that how the body shows up (how it looks) matters because the body is being used on behalf of me to gain something from others. The me uses the body as a means to gain approval, love, acceptance, acknowledgement, etc. from others.

I meant it was gone in the moment of looking. There is definitely still a program of ‘what others think of me’ running as there have been a couple of thoughts today about exactly that. I didn’t notice how much those sort of thoughts come up before.

Yeah I notice that now. Thanks for pointing that out. I wouldn't have noticed that if you hadn't pointed that out.

Would like to keep noticing how much thought adds to what is :)

Have you notice how much repetitive thoughts showing up in a day about the body? Playing the same track over and over and over again?
How many times do you have a judging thought about the body?
Or how the body should look like?
Or how others would perceive you if the body were fat or lean?

Take a paper, and watch your thoughts throughout a day. Write down these questions, and make a mark every time when you have a thought belonging to that question.

Can you notice that most of those thoughts are not just repetitive but they are the same word-by-word? Having the same expressions of judgements again and again in a form of habitual thought patterns?

At the end of the day, count your marks.
Now think back, what is your guess, how many times did you have the same or very similar judgments, shoulds and souldn’t-s about the body yesterday?
And what about the last week? Last month? Last year? Last ten years?

Yes it really seems that there is a habitual thought pattern of judgment of the body. These same thoughts although in total 14 thoughts are the same thoughts that have been appearing for a few years now. My guess is there is at least 15 or more (sometimes) similar judgments per day. That sure would add up to a lot of judgment over the span of 10 years!
Noticing these judgments was good actually. Good to see how they come up automatically and are just something appearing...these thoughts don’t feel so much like truths now.


Gratitude and love,
Tanya

[Vivien]

Hi Tanya,

Good to see how they come up automatically and are just something appearing...these thoughts don’t feel so much like truths now.

I’m glad to hear that :) just keep noticing any recurring judgemental thoughts about the body. You can also add to notice any thoughts around eating, what should I eat, what shouldn’t, or if there is any fear or concern that a certain food might harm me, or make me fat :) or anything like that.

Try to discover as much repeating patters as you can in any part of your life. You will be surprised how much could be there.

Here is a little trick that help to see them only as a pattern, as nothing serious… every time when you notice a recurring pattern or judgement, immediately stop the loop, and label it as ‘pattern’. Just internally say to yourself “It’s just a pattern’. With this, first you stop the pattern playing out as it normally would, and also, the identification with them can lessen.

I used for some time for any judging thoughts about my body, and at some point I didn’t need to use the labelling any more, since those thoughts couldn’t trigger any emotional reactions any more. Sometimes the thoughts still come up, but not emotion attached to them.

If you are brave enough, you can go to the mirror naked, and just notice what judgements come up and then do the labelling.

I think this will be enough for now.
Let me know what you find.

Warmly,
Vivien

[Vivien]

Just one thing I forget to mention… we are not trying to get rid of any habitual or judgemental thought. We are only ever noticing it for what it is. It’s just a thought that repeatedly comes up, so we label it accordingly. But it’s free to show whenever it wants, no pushing, no resisting, no wanting and making it go away. Just recognizing it for what it is. Just an indecent thought in loops.

[tanyawilliams86]

Hi Vivien,

Good to see how they come up automatically and are just something appearing...these thoughts don’t feel so much like truths now.

I’m glad to hear that :) just keep noticing any recurring judgemental thoughts about the body. You can also add to notice any thoughts around eating, what should I eat, what shouldn’t, or if there is any fear or concern that a certain food might harm me, or make me fat :) or anything like that.

Try to discover as much repeating patters as you can in any part of your life. You will be surprised how much could be there.

Here is a little trick that help to see them only as a pattern, as nothing serious… every time when you notice a recurring pattern or judgement, immediately stop the loop, and label it as ‘pattern’. Just internally say to yourself “It’s just a pattern’. With this, first you stop the pattern playing out as it normally would, and also, the identification with them can lessen.

I used for some time for any judging thoughts about my body, and at some point I didn’t need to use the labelling any more, since those thoughts couldn’t trigger any emotional reactions any more. Sometimes the thoughts still come up, but not emotion attached to them.

If you are brave enough, you can go to the mirror naked, and just notice what judgements come up and then do the labelling.

I think this will be enough for now.
Let me know what you find.

I have only discovered a few repeating patterns so far. But I am sure I will discover more when different life situations/events trigger a pattern. But what I have found is I am seeing there are so many thoughts that don't refer to actual experience.It's easy to see them as not referring to actual experience whereas before looking at this lots of thoughts like that flew under the radar and seemed to be true.

I have tried your little trick 4 times today. It is a helpful to label the judging or repeating thought loops as just a pattern. I will continue to use this trick :) Thank you.

I haven't tried going to the mirror naked to notice what judgments come up and then label those judgments as just patterns yet but will probably do that tomorrow.

I feel that I will be looking at and noticing patterns for a while so identification with these thoughts goes. Not that the thoughts don't appear anymore. I expect that these thoughts will 'always' appear.

Warmly,
Tanya

[tanyawilliams86]

Just one thing I forget to mention… we are not trying to get rid of any habitual or judgemental thought. We are only ever noticing it for what it is. It’s just a thought that repeatedly comes up, so we label it accordingly. But it’s free to show whenever it wants, no pushing, no resisting, no wanting and making it go away. Just recognizing it for what it is. Just an indecent thought in loops.

Yes because any resisting,pushing or wanting it to go away seems to cause suffering. And anything is free to show up simply because it does :) I just want to see what is as it is and it is a relief to know thoughts don't have to be gotten ridden of to recognise the truth. There's no stopping thoughts from showing up anyway so how would you permanently get rid of thought patterns lol.

[Vivien]

Hi Tanya,

But what I have found is I am seeing there are so many thoughts that don't refer to actual experience.It's easy to see them as not referring to actual experience whereas before looking at this lots of thoughts like that flew under the radar and seemed to be true.

Yes, it’s good to notice this.

I haven't tried going to the mirror naked to notice what judgments come up and then label those judgments as just patterns yet but will probably do that tomorrow.

Please let me know what you find.

Just notice thoughts; how much narration is going on. Whatever is happening thought has something to say about it. It’s constantly weaving stories about everything and everyone.

The story is so well run; the mechanisms are all in place. Thoughts have the tendency to appear as solid truths and it is so enticing to believe each and every one of them.

But are all of our thoughts depicting what is?

Some thoughts point to something, like ‘seeing something’ but other thoughts just point to more thoughts, exploding in a thought merry-go-round. :)

What if instead of thoughts offering solid truths, those explanations are nothing but assumptions? Theories at best?

Can you see how intricate the story is around this apparent entity, called Tanya?

Just notice how much detail thoughts provide… but these are just add-ons… just more narrations, explanation, assumptions… in the name of ‘truth’.

Vivien

[tanyawilliams86]

Hi Vivien!

I hope you are having a nice weekend :)

I haven't tried going to the mirror naked to notice what judgments come up and then label those judgments as just patterns yet but will probably do that tomorrow.

Please let me know what you find.

Well I found that thought focussed mainly on one area of the body. I had to say ‘this is just a pattern’ many times. I noticed when labelling happened that really did interrupt the pattern and the pattern doesn’t feel as heavy and solid as it did. Thank you for this exercise. An investigation worth repeating :)

Just notice thoughts; how much narration is going on. Whatever is happening thought has something to say about it. It’s constantly weaving stories about everything and everyone.

The story is so well run; the mechanisms are all in place. Thoughts have the tendency to appear as solid truths and it is so enticing to believe each and every one of them.

But are all of our thoughts depicting what is?

No, not all of our thoughts are depicting what is. In fact I find hardly any thoughts are depicting what is.

Some thoughts point to something, like ‘seeing something’ but other thoughts just point to more thoughts, exploding in a thought merry-go-round. :)

What if instead of thoughts offering solid truths, those explanations are nothing but assumptions? Theories at best?

You only have to look at actual experience to see that thoughts aren’t offering solid truths. Thoughts are usually ideas picked up and taken to be true without investigation to see if they are true or not and are not based on reality. Questioning assumptions and theories reveals the unreality of thoughts.

Can you see how intricate the story is around this apparent entity, called Tanya?

Just notice how much detail thoughts provide… but these are just add-ons… just more narrations, explanation, assumptions… in the name of ‘truth’.

I kind of see it. The story seems to weave itself into all ‘parts of life’ and the story is taken to be the actual when it’s just thoughts. The story is taken to be what I am but like you say these are just add-ons.

Warmly,
Tanya <3

[Vivien]

Hi Tanya,

Well I found that thought focussed mainly on one area of the body. I had to say ‘this is just a pattern’ many times. I noticed when labelling happened that really did interrupt the pattern and the pattern doesn’t feel as heavy and solid as it did. Thank you for this exercise. An investigation worth repeating :)

You can use it anytime with any kind of judgement. Just be careful not to do it in order to get rid of something. As soon as there is a desire to get rid of something, the self/I is believed to be real in that moment.

So if you notice the desire to get rid of something, then pause for a moment and inquire ‘who wants to get rid of this?’, ‘who has a problem?’, etc.

You only have to look at actual experience to see that thoughts aren’t offering solid truths. Thoughts are usually ideas picked up and taken to be true without investigation to see if they are true or not and are not based on reality. Questioning assumptions and theories reveals the unreality of thoughts.

Yes. Always check what only happens in thought and what is really direct experience. Do this as often as you can. Question every thought. There is a high chance that they are talking about something utterly invented :)

The story is taken to be what I am but like you say these are just add-ons.

Yes. Just notice, how much thoughts add. Likes and dislikes are added, judgments are added, opinions are added, interpretation is added, and so on.

Thoughts claim everything and connect it to an I, a self. This is something easily observed. Chocolate becomes ' I love chocolate and want some now", a car becomes "This is my car", and so on.

The thing can be any object (like cat, house, table, food), but it can also be a concept (love, freedom, job, emotion, etc).
Notice how many thoughts are in a day that make a thing into MY thing, or that thing is being related to ME or are about ME, or I have an opinion or judgement about that thing.

Let me know what you find.

Vivien