Do you ever get plagued by "improper" thoughts (of whatever nature), which, try as you may, you cannot banish?

I have to smile while replying on this one. I do enjoy most of my improper thoughts. Lol.

Yep.  They're called intrusive thoughts.  ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusive_thought )  They're usually a manifestation of anxiety or an anxiety disorder.  I've suffered from this form of mental torment since I was a kid.

The trick is not to fight them or to develop mental mechanisms by which to 'repel' them.  They don't work for the same reason a Chinese finger puzzle can't be overcome by brute force.  I follow the 'AIM' method: Acknowledge, Ignore, Move-on.

I suppose the psychological hygiene of this attitude depends largely on the nature of the thoughts. :-D

Thinking about boobs is improper?

Damn!!  Something else to worry about. :-)

I highly agree. I can only talk on my own behalf.

I don't know if they would be considered improper, but yes, most excellent improper thoughts, Whoa!

Lol.

lol

I enjoy those thoughts too. Sometimes we need them just to keep us going. Especially if we're living alone. 

But sometimes such thoughts tempt us into actions we might regret.

The problem is some thoughts simply cannot be ignored. They stay put in the mind and drive you crazy until you feel like you need to give in.

Thanks for your answer, Nimitz.

:)

:)

Well, yes and no. The thoughts certainly fill my imagination, but I expend little effort in trying to banish them. Believe me, I do try to banish some of them some if the time, but as the years have gone by, that happens less and less frequently.


~

I live by no regrets. They won't change a thing or make me feel any better about myself. I will be an experience richer and take with me what's useful in the present and for the future, and leave behind what's not.

Hello N:

I have improper thoughts ALL the time.  I don't try to banish them, because they CANNOT be banished.  You have them too.  Everybody does.  If you TRY to banish them, you'll drive yourself NUTS..  The key is not ACTING on your thoughts...

excon

That's a very positive approach to life.

Which is exactly what I'm trying to control myself from doing.

Hello again, N:

What is the Nike slogan???  Just DO it..  That's all you have to do..  It's NOT easy..   It's NOT hard, either.  It's a MUSCLE..  The more you train it to say NO, the easier it becomes..

I'll send you my bill in the morning.

excon

Nope

I try staying positive, even in the less fun periods.

True.  Experience, though, seems to make it easier.  I've been battling this demon since I was eighteen or thereabouts.  Judging by the Wikipedia reference I sent, we're in some mighty good company.