”When humans stop running away from themselves, the world will become a kinder, more peaceful place.”

At times freedom has little to do with the outside world, and circumstances. Man becomes free the moment he becomes free of thought. When he does not longer obsess over the constant chatter in his mind, but instead turns towards the heart.

Freedom from compulsive thinking, desire, addiction, outside validation, constant approval. How does one become free of all that?

I think one needs to stop. One needs to allow himself to slow down, to listen. When one is constantly bombarding himself with stimuli from outside sources it becomes nearly impossible to hear, or see anything. How is one able to listen to the whispers of the soul if one is continually caught up in the outside circus? How is it possible to become aware of the song of the heart when the sirens of the external environment is set on full volume?

One does not typically feel comfortable sitting alone with one’s thoughts. To realise just how dysfunctional they have become. How embarrassing to notice all the bitterness, jealousy, self-loathing, judgment caught up inside. To notice how the ego has a tight grip around one’s soul. Trying everything in its power to defend its weaknesses, to numb out its cries for love.

To have oneself rise above one’s thoughts is, however, the challenge. To know that one isn’t at the mercy of one’s thoughts, but actually the witness of the same. To be able to step outside them – observe them for what they are. Thoughts.

This, however, can be very confronting. One does not want to be this person, filled with all this negativity inside. One does just anything to shut it down. Yet, one does not get rid of the negativity by turning away from it, by numbing out the pain with drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, shopping or whatever one wishes to turn to. Rather, one turns towards it. One allows it in, accepts it. And in that moment of acceptance one notices that it actually has no power. But one indeed has the power to release it, to let it go.

We cannot expect the outside world to change if we are not willing to change ourselves. We cannot expect anyone to treat us right if we cannot treat ourselves, or others right. We cannot expect everyone else to do the work if we just sit there and do nothing.

Face you shit, darling. Face your demons, your dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours. Begin to ask yourself why. Why do I allow this into my life? Why? Start taking responsibility for your life. For your own wellbeing. No one will come and save you. You, my darling, you save yourself. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t ask for help. In fact you should, you should ask for help if help is what you need. You’re not weak or broken; you’re human, you’re simply being human. It’s within vulnerability that true strength is found.

No one said it would be easy. It might even take you a couple of years in order to make space, and to clear shit out. But what is a couple of years of painful (all-important) healing compared to a lifetime of misery.

Face your shit, darling. Face your demons. And you will become to know utmost freedom.

❤

Linda