After lots of meditation, I realized that what pained me about certain fearful/angry/hateful/shameful thoughts I had was not the mere fact that I had them, but

After lots of meditation, I realized that what pained me about certain fearful/angry/hateful/shameful thoughts I had was not the mere fact that I had them, but my attachment to them. That is, the thought only caused me significant pain if I honestly thought it was true -- a part of who I am, a part of my story, a part of my life in some way. The most I practice mindfulness, the more I'm able to be mindful to my attachment to certain thoughts in the moment. As soon as I see this attachment as it is, the power it holds over me dissolves a bit and the pain I feel around it almost magically slips away.