Genuine inner freedom is the unspoken goal of every thought we have and every action we take. In the Eastern wisdom traditions, freedom from self-imposed limitations goes by many names: nirvana, moksha, enlightenment, satori, bodhi, kensho. This state of internal liberation transcends external situations and circumstances. It is freedom from conditioning, freedom from the past, and freedom from the predictable. The opportunity to attain this level of transcendence is a sacred gift we receive at birth, but few of us unwrap it.
One of the greatest obstacles to true liberation is limiting beliefs and habitual behavior, including the mistaken idea that external forces limit our happiness ― “I am depressed because I’m stuck in an abusive marriage.” “I have this ulcer because my boss is controlling.” “I always get into bad relationships because my father abandoned me when I was young.”
We accept these limiting beliefs and engage in perpetual internal negotiations with these restrictive voices, never reaching agreement on the terms for our release. Common excuses I hear include: “As soon as my youngest child graduates high school, I’m leaving this toxic marriage,” or “Once I’m vested in my pension plan, I am saying goodbye to this stagnant job” or “After I get through the holidays, I am going to start exercising.”
If you are living in the thrall of conditioned thought-patterns, now is the time to free yourself from your self-imposed incarceration. The key to unlocking the door lies within your soul. You can find it by listening to your inner self and identifying where you are living in bondage. Try it now.
Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and become aware of any sensations of discomfort in your body. If you identify a place in your body that feels constricted or congested, ask yourself, “What life issue is this sensation telling me about?” Recognizing that emotional conflicts are often expressed as physical tension, allow any bodily sensations to bring your attention to possible mental debates you are having with yourself. Ask what you can do to create inner peace and free yourself from conflict. Plot your escape.
Being fully alive means continually striving to expand freedom in your life. When you move beyond your limitations and expand your sense of identity, exhilaration rises from your depths.
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