Feel, Before You Think
We are not thinking machines that feel; rather, we are feeling machines that think. Antonio Damasio (neuroscientist)
Have you ever said something in anger?
And thought, “That wasn’t really me”
Have you ever walked away from a conversation?
A pang of regret for not expressing your thoughts.
It’s a frustrating experience.
Your mind goes blank at the moment when it matters most.
We often take pride in the belief that we are in control of our thoughts.
That we think, reflect, and decide deliberately.
But what if this view is fundamentally flawed?
What if our bodies, the very vessels of our existence, dictate the thoughts we are permitted to entertain?
All before our conscious minds ever catch the first glimpse of them.
This groundbreaking concept, known as TGTS—the Thought Generator–Thought Selector theory—challenges conventional beliefs about thinking.
It suggests that our thoughts aren't merely a product of choice; rather, they are rooted in the biological capabilities of our bodies.
Deeply intertwined with our human experience.
Embrace this transformative perspective.
We think not just by choice, but due to the innate power within us.
Most people believe that fear is a barrier to action.
But what if, instead, fear inhibits our ability to think critically?
We tend to envision ourselves as the command centre of our thoughts and emotions. Steering our consciousness.
Yet, in reality, we often find ourselves merely reacting to what comes our way.
When thoughts arise, we’re drawn to them.
When emotions surge, we yield to their pull.
It may seem like we’re exercising free will.
But it’s actually akin to a finely-tuned reflex, responding without true deliberation.
In the realm of TGTS, the body plays a vital role as our decoder.
Crafting a powerful signal composed of hormones, nerve activity, and a rich immune tone.
This signal is then transmitted upward as a unique frequency.
Invoking an immediate, instinctive response from the brain.
It does not analyse the signal.
Instead, it reacts, much like a perfectly shaped key unlocking a door.
Emphasising the profound connection between our bodily signals and our brain's responsiveness.
And the key decision point.
The gate that determines whether a persuasive emotional thought becomes yours is the amygdala.
At times, our minds offer us a fleeting opportunity to pause, reflect, and redirect.
We refer to this critical moment as PreForm.
However, this precious window doesn’t always present itself.
Especially when our bodies are enveloped in feelings of danger and insecurity.
When PreForm fades away, you lose the power of choice.
You don’t take a moment to reflect.
Instead, you simply follow the script laid out for you.
Amygdala: The Key to Your Thoughts
At the heart of our mental and emotional processes lies a small yet powerful part of the brain called the amygdala.
The amygdala serves as a gatekeeper, a decision-maker, and a protector of our emotional responses.
But its role extends far beyond just processing emotions.
This post explores how the amygdala interacts with your thoughts.
Why it controls certain mental processes.
And what you can do to use this knowledge to your benefit.
Ultimately, understanding the deeper science of the amygdala reveals not only how we think.
But also how we can evolve the connection between thoughts and actions through mindfulness, awareness, and purposeful change.
The TGTS Theory Explained
The foundational concept behind this exploration is something called the TGTS theory.
The Thought Generator–Thought Selector theory.
This theory challenges conventional ideas about free will and conscious thought.
It suggests that we don’t entirely generate thoughts out of thin air based on deliberate choice.
Instead, our thoughts stem from biological signals generated within the body.
Here's how it works:
The Thought Generator generates a continuous stream of ideas, emotions, and responses.
These stem from sensory inputs, hormones, and even ingrained survival instincts.
The Thought Selector determines which ideas and emotions are worth acting upon.
It filters through the noise of raw thoughts to identify what feels “important” or “true” in the moment.
These mechanisms don’t work in isolation, though.
The biological signals your body produces.
Stress, joy, or exhaustion.
directly influence this thought-selection process.
And at the heart of it all lies the amygdala.
The decision point at which thoughts gain prominence.
The Role of the Amygdala in Emotional Thought Processing
The amygdala is often described as the brain’s emotional control centre.
It’s responsible for processing feelings like fear, anger, and excitement.
Allowing you to respond to challenges or threats quickly.
But the amygdala is more than just a switchboard for emotions.
It also regulates the gate between instinctive reactions and thoughtful decisions.
How the Amygdala Acts as a Gate
When your body senses danger or stress, the amygdala steps in.
To prioritise survival instincts.
It shuts down reflective thinking in favour of rapid, reactive decision-making.
If something unexpected startles you.
Your amygdala will bypass reflection and immediately push for action.
running, fighting, or freezing.
By contrast, when your body signals safety and calmness, the amygdala relaxes its grip.
This allows more reflective processes to take over.
Creating the opportunity to pause and contemplate your options.
This fleeting window for reflection is called PreForm.
And understanding how to cultivate a state conducive to PreForm is essential for gaining control over your thoughts.
The Ego Reconsidered
We often think of the ego as the seat of control.
The "I" that navigates the world with logic and choice.
But what if the ego is not the rational overseer we imagine?
What if the ego is the amygdala — not a mindful navigator, but a vigilant gatekeeper, selecting thoughts based on safety, not truth?
In this view, the ego is not a higher self.
But a filter forged by biology, shaped by survival.
It does not reason; it reacts.
It does not lead; it defends.
The amygdala guards our emotional safety.
Becomes the author of identity, not through intention, but through instinct.
The Concept of PreForm
PreForm is a state where the amygdala loosens its control.
Offering a critical pause between thought and action.
It’s the moment when you can consciously evaluate a thought rather than instinctively reacting to it.
Why PreForm Matters
The ability to pause and reflect before acting is what separates thoughtful decisions from reactive behaviours.
When PreForm is present, you have the power to redirect your thoughts.
Challenge assumptions and make choices aligned with your values.
However, when PreForm is absent, you default to habits and reflexes.
Ingrained “scripts” that may not always serve your best interests.
Unfortunately, the amygdala can completely lock PreForm out.
When the body is in a chronic state of stress.
Without PreForm, you end up reacting impulsively instead of reasoning rationally.
The Jellyfish Mind and the Free Energy Principle
One way to conceptualise how the brain reacts under stress is the “Jellyfish Mind.”
Like a jellyfish floating with the ocean’s current.
The brain often follows the flow of instinctive reactions without deliberate thought.
The Jellyfish Mind also aligns with the Free Energy Principle (FEP).
The brain strives to minimise uncertainty and surprises.
Instead of seeking clarity, it suppresses inputs that might disrupt its predictive patterns.
This is efficient for survival, but can become limiting in an unpredictable modern world.
When stress becomes chronic, the Jellyfish Mind takes control.
Amplifying reactive behaviours and reducing the brain’s ability to evaluate choices critically.
This highlights why PreForm and reflective states are rare and vital in today’s environment.
The Cost of Chronic Amygdala Activation
Beneath awareness, chronic low-grade inflammation simmers.
Fuelled by ultra-processed foods, sedentary routines, compulsive hedonism, and the endless chase for the next fix.
This subtle but constant internal agitation keeps the amygdala on high alert.
Not in alarm, but in vigilance.
Over time, it disables the pause we need most: the PreForm window.
And so, without ever feeling “stressed,”
We live reactively.
Fast. Fragmented.
Disconnected from the gate of choice. Disconnected from Preform.
The result?
Chronic amygdala activation, which shuts down the reflective gateway of PreForm.
Adverse Effects of Chronic Stress on Thought
Reduced Creativity. When the amygdala governs your thought processes, the brain prioritises familiar scripts over creative problem-solving.
Impulsive Reactions: You’re more likely to act on strong emotions like anger or fear, even when a pause might offer better alternatives.
Loss of Reflection: Without PreForm, there’s little space for questioning the validity of your thoughts or considering alternate perspectives.
The solution lies in creating conditions that allow the amygdala to step back and PreForm to emerge.
Opening the Gateway to PreForm
The Willowsway — A Whispered Path Back to Yourself
There is a way of living that does not shout.
It does not demand.
It does not hack or hustle or fracture your focus.
It listens. It slows. It waits for the breath you forgot you were holding.
This is the Willowsway.
It begins in the body — not the mind.
Because before any thought can be chosen, the body must declare the world safe.
The amygdala must loosen its grip.
Like a clenched fist finally opening beneath soft rain.
And so, we begin not with control, but with kindness.
Not with fixing thoughts, but with feeding the roots.
Eat not to count, but to calm.
Let your food be the fire that warms, not the smoke that chokes.
A quiet bowl, rich with what heals — this too is thought work.
This, too, is philosophy.
And then move — but gently.
Not to conquer.
Not to escape.
Move to wake the ancient rhythm in your bones.
Walk with the wind.
Stretch like dawn.
Let your movement teach your nerves that nothing is chasing you.
Gratitude — the most rebellious act in a world addicted to outrage.
One sincere thank you is a lantern lit in the cave of the self.
Gratitude turns the amygdala’s alarm into a lullaby.
And community, not crowds, but connection.
Not numbers, but names.
Sit across from someone who sees you.
Hold eye contact.
Share a story.
Your nervous system will sigh.
Your thoughts will soften.
This is the Willowsway.
A biology of belonging.
A physiology of peace.
It is not a biohack. It is a remembering.
That the mind is not sovereign, but a servant of the body’s weather.
Those thoughts are not facts, but children of chemistry and breath.
And when the body feels safe, the mind becomes clear.
PreForm returns, that holy pause.
And in it, you find yourself again, not as a reactor, but a reflector.
A chooser, a human being, finally allowed to think.
So walk gently.
Eat slowly.
Breathe deeply.
Love steadily.
That is the Willowsway.
It does not force clarity.
It invites it.
If this resonated with you, pause for a moment.
Not to think harder.
But to feel whether your gate is open.
Ask yourself:
Have I been living in PreForm — or just running the script?
Am I always bracing and calling it “normal”?
What small shift in breath, rest, and connection could open the gate again?
You don’t need to solve it all.
You need to signal safety, and give your next thought a place to land.
If this idea of the amygdala-as-ego or the TGTS model helped you see your inner world differently, I invite you to:
