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The freedom of our limitations

Photo by Fuu J on Unsplash

 

A phenomenon that often occurs in my practice is that I have a week or sometimes longer when just about everybody who walks into my office seems to be experiencing the same theme.

 

As is my habit in times like these, I take it personally and start to work on my own life, and notice how “The Theme” applies to me.  I consider this a healthy habit for everyone who starts to notice a recurring theme in their lives, perhaps it is a communication to you for some closer attention.

 

The most recent theme has been ‘FREEDOM’.  Freedom from one or another undesirable state.

 

We all have an idea of what freedom means to us, and each person would have their definition of this.  For some it is financial, for others, just being able to choose what they do with their time daily, for some, it may be a case of being stuck in a job that they see no way out of or even a relationship in which they are trapped.

 

Whilst contemplating this idea of Freedom, and what it means, I was drawn to a book on my bookshelf.  Upon opening it, I read the following quote:

 

‘Desire is a resistance to being without, Resistance is the desire to be without.  At the root of both is longing.’ ~ Love Precious Humanity, the collected wisdom of Harry Palmer

 

At that moment the question of freedom made so much sense to me.  To seek freedom means that we have a desire for something other than what we have, resisting what we have is creating a desire for its opposite. 

 

So freedom from an undesirable state is not about resisting it, ignoring it, or pushing it away, Freedom comes from fully experiencing it, finding the value of the financial limitations, the entrapment of the relationship, and the un-stimulating working environment.  As one of my most wonderful mentors often says ‘embracing the pain’.  Through embracing it, and the willingness to be honest with oneself comes insight into why it is there in the first place.

 

I have often commented that if one were to honestly look at why you don’t have that which you desire, and consider your feelings in the process, this may well be the best way to start creating it.  For with the insight comes the acceptance, and in return, release to experience fully.

 

An incredible paradox occurred once I had clarified all these concepts.  Once we have unpacked all these factors of pain, desire, and resistance all in the pursuit of freedom, we may then consciously choose the keep our shackles.  For often it is in the predictability of our lives that we feel safe.

Allowing ourselves freedom is not for the faint-hearted, one needs to be very brave to face our truths, and experience ourselves as more.

 

I will leave you with one more quote from the collected works of Harry Palmer,

 

‘Enlightenment is the discovery of eternity in the present moment

 

Go forth and embrace your limitations, after all, you put them there for your higher learning, don’t waste your time and energy by rejecting them.  You will only make it stronger J