How to Live a Life of Freedom
Photo by kyknoord
Walking around my apartment I noticed garbage, piled up plates, random things on the floor and lots of dust. I then realized I was in a cage at the zoo…
Did I really want this mess everywhere? Of course not, but when you’re in a cage at the zoo - what can you do? I mean, we’re talking metal bars here.
Truth is, there’s always a way out of the cage, and I’m going to tell you how.
Whenever you’re presented with challenge and it could be anything: there’s always two voices going on at one time. There is the voice that says be lazy, or show no restraint because it’s so gratifying at the time and then there is the voice that says, I got the power, and long term success is more important to me.
Whenever we side with what we feel like but don’t actually want - we have just put ourselves in the cage. We have forfeited our freedom. If you’re doing what you feel like at the cost of what you want, you’re not living a life of freedom. You’re living a life of servitude. Is that any way to be? Hell no.
When you find yourself in the cage at the zoo - the metal bars are symbols for all the voices you have listened to. All the times you listened to voices that led you into situations you really didn’t want. Those voices when listened to - hold you captive.
I’ve spent my fair share of time at the zoo, believe me I have. But I’m ready to break out of this hell hole, and besides - the monkeys are beginning to smell. They don’t make the best neighbors to tell you the truth.
Next time you’re tempted to do something you really don’t want to, try this visualization on for size:
Imagine that if you go through with what you really don’t want to (for example, procrastination) you’re now in a cage at the zoo with a bunch of hooting apes as your neighbors. Yet if you stick to your guns, and do what you know is wise, you’re sitting in a field full of lavender flowers. The sun is shining warmly on your skin, and the calm aroma is permeating your being.
The more we do what we actually want, the more we live outside of the cage. The more we listen to what we don’t'want but merely feel like doing at the time, the more we live in a cage filled with monkeys at the zoo.
Where do you want to live?
Illustration by jpeckarts
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August 18th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Monkeys do smell. Get out of there. Let’s see a list of the best ways to do it.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:58 am
That’s a very interesting analogy, Bamboo- being caged by our reluctance to be free.
Along those lines, I understand animals in captivity become programmed into believing that they have to stay there. To venture outside, is often more scary than remaining locked up.
I guess the same principles apply to us humans.
We become accustomed to our limiting belief that the world outside is a place to fear. It is safer, we tell ourselves, to sit trapped rather than run the risk of experiencing the new.
I would much rather smell the lavendar than feel the cold, metallic bars.
Thank you for another thought provoking article, Bamboo.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Yes, sometimes it takes being disgusted of the current situation to give ourselves the motives to make change happen.
Vive la liberté!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Earl Nightengale had a favorite line that works very well here. “We always have a choice between things that are tension-relieving or goal-achieving.”
The key is to come to full consciousness surrounding your choice to be less than you know you could be. Thanks to you I’ll now smell the monkey dung when I feel like packing it in.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I like the way you’re looking at this.
It’s very important to see the bigger picture, to define your long-term goals, and to act accordingly.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I suppose you could say that when we act in accordance with what we want in the long run we’re listening to our higher selves (the monkey could be our ego). Although every now and then our higher self does want to lie in a hammock, listen to the birds, and feel the breeze blowing (which is what my higher self and I were doing yesterday afternoon)
August 18th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
That’s a really cool way of looking at it BF. I’ll have copied it, memorized it and plagiarized it before you can say “Damn Limey without an original thought in his bald pasty head”
August 18th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I’ll take the lavender fields any day! But, there does have to be a balance, otherwise my apartment could end up smelling like the monkeys live there and I’d go bananas
August 18th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
@ Writer Dad: Yes, they smell and I am long gone from that cage!
@ Scott: Interesting insight with what happens to animals in captivity and how it could apply to this article.
@ Al:It does sometimes take us being disgusted, true. Ideally though - we should do what we truly want to before the dishes pile up!
@ Tom: That’s a great line. Thanks for sharing. The dung smells really bad!
@ Vered: Indeed. We so often feel like gratifying ourselves in the moment at the expense of what we truly desire in life. Self mastery gives us true freedom.
@ Marelisa: I would agree with that, that being consistent with our higher self is what we truly want. Relaxation is also a key part of life.
@ Tim: Glad you found it of value.
@ Davina: Yes, an apartment that smells like the monkeys live there is bad news.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Hi there Bamboo
That’s such a good point - we all want to tune in to our intuition, and see what we feel like doing, but it’s not always that easy to identify it. Do I really want to sit by the fire or do I really want to go for a walk to get some exercise?
It takes practice and experience to know which voice to listen to - to see which choices actually bring about satisfaction (I’m going for a walk now).
August 19th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Hi Bamboo,
I prefer not to live in a zoo, so I do what’s necessary to remove those bars. Some days I don’t always succeed, but I’ve usually left with enough room to escape.
Great analogy!
August 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Experience has taught me that all of our prisons are of our own making. Freedom from the zoo, from monkey poo, or from “I don’ wanna do” requires conviction, perseverance, and a mindset shift. After pushing through the initial draining lethargy, then comes the lavender!
August 19th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
In the cage, I’m fed and in my comfort zone. But the feeling of false security cannot beat the sense of freedom from being out of the cage!! Great analogy you have here on your post.
Thanks for sharing!
August 20th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Like Scott said, we make our life a prison and if we do it long enough we convince ourselves this is all there is. For me, it comes back to that simple idea of doing something every day that scares you. I always feel like at the very least that’s moving me towards growth, and often what you want is exactly what you fear so you’re on the right track all round.
Loved this piece.
The Wild Monkey
Kelly
August 20th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Bamboo-
Powerful analogy- makes us rethink our own self-imposed boundaries!- Your words allow us to understand the simplicity of “leaving the cage”
August 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
@ Barbara: I am certain you don’t live in the zoo - considering how punctual you are with your blog posts!
@ SpaceAgeSage: Very well said. Thanks for the inspiration!
@ Evelyn: It cannot beat the sense of freedom, so true!!
@ Kelly: True enough, that we convince ourselves, Kelly.
@ Patti: Thanks for the kind words.
@ Robin: “It takes practice and experience to know which voice to listen to - to see which choices actually bring about satisfaction (I’m going for a walk now).”
Interesting point. Practice is a good point, it really does. Ultimately, the more we can practice true awareness, the better.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
if i did what i wanted, i would be so home in the bed or maybe on the computer. i want to be free, but i can’t be free until i get rid of my horrible master: debt. this year.
until then i have to slave at doing what i hate for just a little while longer. when i’m debt free, i will be truly free to do and live as i want. without worries.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
@ Natural: Then I would say, going to work is what you *want* to do. In reality, what you *feel* like doing is staying home… If you gave into what you felt like doing, what you don’t want would only get worse.
But you *want* to get out of debt. You want to make your life better. So, in actuality - I’d say you’re doing what you want, as opposed to what you feel like. As such, you should be applauded for this.