Having recently started meditating, I understand your point about being an observer of my thought. Perhaps separately, I've noticed I'm more focused in my thought. Maybe a better way to put this is my mind doesn't go around in circles, so being undistracted, I find myself turning more "automatically" to my priorities. So that's all good.

Being such an analytical person (in a good way! lol) there is one part of what you say that throws me. If in fact I'm listening to (and not authoring?) my thoughts, then how can I steer my boat, call up positive thoughts, and the other steps you describe, when those steps are themselves thoughts, and thus something I just observe? If my bad thoughts aren't me, then how can my good thoughts be me?