Contemplating the nature of thought

[Spiritual Warrior]

It has been boggling my mind recently, how can I form a picture inside of my head that looks very real. I can describe it's properties. I am able to access this picture "inside of my head" while also looking outwards intro the world. What is this thing, this picture in my head that is in my head, on a metaphysical, it doesn't make sense to me that it can even exist. 

Let's take this example, I can see a "gremlin" in my head. He has big, sharp teeth. He is holding one of those old fashioned tape recorders that he is manually rolling. He is smiling in a most devious way. He is rolling thoughts into my head. This is my inner gremlin, as described by Richard Carson. Now, why and how can I conjure up this picture inside of my own head? From my perception, I am clearly seeing this "gremlin," however, he is not in any way shape or form out there in the real world. Is this because out there in the real world isn't actually real? So there is no difference between the thoughts that I conjure up and the things that my eyeballs see outside of this body? How do I know what I'm seeing with my eyes is a real thing? What is the difference? And why can't I grasp this picture of the "gremlin" while I can reach out and grasp this water bottle in front of me? Therefore the water bottle is a real physical object, correct? and the thought of a gremlin is not real. Then again, what makes something real? Is it the fact that it can be grasped? That's what makes it real? If something were real then I'd have to be able to grasp it, otherwise I cannot possibly be able to tell if it's real or not.

Culturally, we consider things that are graspable as real physical objects. But does that mean that the air around you isn't real? I cannot hold the air, my hand would go right through it. But it is there, isn't it? Maybe everything is real and me labeling things as not real is a complete waste of time. Or nothing is real. And how would I know the difference? Ughhhhhh I am so confused. 

[Princess Arabia]

Thought contemplating itself.