I once heard it once described that our thoughts are like streams of bubbles in a fish tank. At first it looks as though the bubbles are one continuous, connected stream. But look closely, and you'll see that there is space between each bubble. Our thoughts also appear to be connected. They flow in and out of our mind continuously, one seemingly interwoven with the next. They seem to overlap, and intertwine with each other and fight for our attention. When we spend time observing our thoughts, and note the randomness at which they pass through our mind, we also might notice that there's space between each thought. We might notice that they don't overlap, that one thought ends before another can begin. And that there's a space between the end of one thought and the beginner of another, much like our breath.
The reason I think it's important to try to find the space between our thoughts is because in so doing, we can learn to become less reactionary to our emotions, which arise with thought. We then begin to discriminate better, to discern, to act with intelligence and not impulse. Of course, at times we need our impulses, like the fight or flight reaction that overcomes us when we feel threatened. But those are healthy impulses which serve a purpose. Not to say our thoughts don't serve a purpose, but at times, too much thinking can really create chaos in the mind, which ripples outward. Not good.
I felt like illustrating this concept today, for no other reason than it appeared to me while I was...you might guess it....meditating.
