This question is very interesting, stop, think about it, think hard.
Personally, I have two mindsets that I call abstract and language
Abstract thought: it happens while physically painting, I'm set on volume, light values, color, anatomy, composition etc. is mostly involuntary, it just happens and I don't necessary think in words. My mind is pretty blank during those short burst, is instinctive, simple: this works, this doesn't, something looks off, fix this, flip it, go over it, add more of this, it needs more of that, push it, push, push, push.
Language/conscious thought: it happens when I step back, appreciate what I've got so far, and