If thinking is like inner speech, then there is also an option to be quiet for a while. You start the act of observation by telling yourself "now I am going to

If thinking is like inner speech, then there is also an option to be quiet for a while. You start the act of observation by telling yourself "now I am going to observe", but then you can stop talking. The goal is not to stop thinking forever. Thoughts are useful. The goal is to stop thinking obsessively.