Do You Believe Thoughts Are Substantial Or Ephemeral ?

[sakoz]

'Thoughts' are closer/akin to dreams than to matter.  Definition of 'believe- to take as true, real." Definition of 'pretend'- to make believe'. What's the difference?
To pretend, you recognize doing it. (volitionally).  To believe, you do it seriously, without recognizing doing it. (involuntarily).
Attachment to thought is assurance of emotional suffering, dysfunctional behavior, mistakes, stress, etc. when the thoughts believed are false. I don't say "think outside the box." I say; "step outside the 'box' of thoughts and witness them from an 'outside' perspective.
Pavlovs dogs didn't have the option of whether to react to the sound of his bell or not. Don't you want the option of whether to react to your conditioned thoughts or not?
'Believing' a thought is real is analogous to the sound of Pavlovs bell to our involuntary nervous system. 'Involuntary' does not sleep, so it does not distinguish dream-images, thought-images, environmental perceptions. It's hard-wired to react to any semblance of perceptions. Survival is the first priority, even before reflief from suffering. Comfort is further 'down the list'.

We have the organs to think and talk. (brain, tongue,etc.) The "what" or "content" of thought and speech is "learned"; therefore personal, unique, subjective.

The fear of public speaking was at the top of the list of common fears. It would be ludicrous to get a tongue transplant, because that's not the problem/cause of fear. (lol)
It's "believed" thoughts.  Believed thoughts are ameanable to change, they are not immutable  Notice how many people believe "their beliefs" are gospel truth, or at least 'act' like it.