[SargeMaximus]

Have any of you ever thought about freedom and what it means? Most think in physical terms, freedom to go wherever you like, do whatever you want, and not be bothered. Yes, this is freedom indeed. Or is it?

Is one really free to do what they want if their own mind is a prison?

If the thoughts you have limit you; if your beliefs shape the world into a hostile and ugly place?

I would say that not everyone can truly be free, because they themselves will not allow it. Any time someone needs someone else to open the iron bars of tyranny, they are allowing that individual person, or idea, to have power over their own thoughts and actions. Suddenly, you cannot be free until someone ELSE tells you it's ok. You cannot throw a coffee cup against the wall in the middle of the coffee room unless it was already accepted. I mean seriously, who does that? I'll tell you who: those that are on the road to freedom.

We have within us a mechanism that has been named "The Flinch", and it is a powerful instinct (as anyone who has ever flinched before can attest).

This instinct is designed to protect us from danger, like an impending impact or attack on our person. But what happens when the same instinct is triggered when we enter an unfamiliar social setting? Or go for a job interview? How many flinches are we aware of? How many are we not? And (most importantly) how do we let our flinch influence our lives to our own detriment?

I would highly suggest the following (free) e-book which is more of a manual for overcoming this vicious fear-based instinct. If nothing else, read it out of curiosity. It may just be the best bit of self-discovery you've made in your life. Or, it may not, but you won't know until you read it.



The Flinch: Julien Smith: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

[ohnoezitsjoez]

Good sell, I'll check it out tomorrow.

I would wonder how the below quote meshes with the concept of folks receiving help for mental and emotional issues, whether it be professional or whatever the case.

"I would say that not everyone can truly be free, because they themselves will not allow it. Any time someone needs someone else to open the iron bars of tyranny, they are allowing that individual person, or idea, to have power over their own thoughts and actions. Suddenly, you cannot be free until someone ELSE tells you it's ok."

[SargeMaximus]

Good sell, I'll check it out tomorrow.

I would wonder how the below quote meshes with the concept of folks receiving help for mental and emotional issues, whether it be professional or whatever the case.

"I would say that not everyone can truly be free, because they themselves will not allow it. Any time someone needs someone else to open the iron bars of tyranny, they are allowing that individual person, or idea, to have power over their own thoughts and actions. Suddenly, you cannot be free until someone ELSE tells you it's ok."

I believe that is the key right there. We are often our own worst enemies. Let me know what you think of the book, I'm interested to see if anyone else benefits from it as much as I have.

[bubbleboy]

I think about invisible walls related to culture, society, and expectations and how they impede me sometimes. I remember walking by an apartment building on campus once thinking to myself, "why don't I just shatter that window right there?" I obviously wouldn't do that but it's interesting how things we're perfectly capable of accomplishing physically are pretty much impossible to do because of social structure and learned behavior.

[InsanityRemix]

Freedom is a state of mind that is determined by the individual.

[thegirlcandance]

We have a lot of unconscious blocks that we are constantly working through on a subconscious level. A lot of these blocks were caused by our culture, upbringing, etc. Clearly, we are not consciously aware of this and what is fully going on exactly. Yet, it does prove that our perceptions and "real freedom" is and has been masked by society, thoughts, judgments, and emotions.

I'd actually highly recommend reading Jung's work in further depth regarding his archetypes and dream analysis. That seems to at least provide a foundation for what is continuing to be researched and shifted in terms of new ways of beliefs in a psycho-spiritual way of living.