Freedom is often talked about in terms of civil liberties, and of course these freedoms are precious and vital. Most of us are lucky enough to have a great deal of personal freedom. Enough money, plenty to eat, lovely clothes, freedom to express ourselves in every way. However, how free do we really feel? How about inner freedom? Freedom from fear, freedom from limiting ways of thinking, and the freedom to truly express how we feel and need.
Freedom Meditation
Breathe, relax, and imagine you find yourself on the top of a high mountain. It's a very breezy, light place. You feel relaxed and free. You notice a cave to the left and enter. Inside on a dais, you are shown a crystal glowing with light. You look inside the crystal and it shows you what is possible for you. You watch the images in the crystal for a while, then return to the top of the mountain. Someone comes up behind you and clips a large pair of wings to your shoulders. You take a deep breath, raise your arms, let go, and soar out over the top of the mountains, taking in the view. Fly free as much as you like, and when you are ready, gently return.
Freedom to Create What We Want
Usually when we feel that others such as our partner or boss is limiting us, it is actually ourselves creating the limits. We use other people as a convenient excuse! There's a subconscious reason why we don't want the thing in question, but we are not aware of it. For example, the dream relationship you think you want but in actual fact, you feel afraid of being that happy! Or the payrise and promotion you think you want, however you are not ready for the responsibility, fear you cannot do it, or even, fear success (and the jealousy of peers). So, in life, things are not always as they seem! We live in a an abundant universe waiting to give us everything we want. If only we could work out and articulate clearly and honestly.. what that is! And accept it.
So how to do that? Everything that is true for us is held as a series of beliefs in the subconscious mind, which is like a vast submerged iceberg to the miniscule tip of the conscious mind. The thing is, we don't know what's beneath the surface. Here is an exercise that will reveal your subconscious truths.
Take a pen and paper, focus on a particular area of your life that you'd like to change or feel stuck with, and spontaneously answer the following questions:
If I didn't want this (thing, situation, etc),
it would be because: _____________.
If I had reservations about it, they would be: _____________.
If I had it, I would feel uncomfortable because: ____________.
If I had it, I would worry about the reaction of _____________
because _____________.
If I had it, I would feel:__________ because: _____________.
I need this thing because I want to feel: _______________.
I am resisting this thing because
I don't want to feel: __________________.
I don't think this thing is possible because: _______________.
I am afraid of this thing because:_______________.
You may be very surprised at what you uncover. For example, you may be afraid to be too happy, or you may fear someone else's anger, etc. To free yourself, you can change any limiting beliefs by acknowledging and embracing them. This turns the belief off. Simply say out loud ‘I choose to believe…I'm afraid to be too happy. I love myself when I believe…I'm afraid to be too happy. And I embrace it, I surrender.'* Do this for each limiting belief. You always embrace the negative, to turn it off. You only need do it once.
Freedom to Express our Feelings,Wants and Needs
How good are you at expressing how you really feel, and what you need? Consider the same or another situation you looked at above, and answer the following questions off the cuff:
If I was really honest about this situation,
I'd say: _______________.
If I was really honest with myself, I'd say: _________________.
If I really knew the best thing to do,
I'd say: ________________.
If I was honest about how I really feel,
I'd say: _________________.
It I was honest about what I really want,
I'd say: _________________.
It I was honest about what I really need,
I'd say: _________________.
If there was anything stopping me about being honest,
it would be: ___________________.
If there was scope for improvement,
it would be: ____________________.
What I am willing to do to change
things is: __________________.
If a friend was in this situation,
I'd tell them: __________________.
What I am willing to do to change
things is: __________________.
Ideally, what I would like to happen is: __________________.
You can use the embracement process above on anything negative you uncover. You may find that what you actually want IS what is already happening! Sometimes it's just challenging embracing the consequences of choices and being patient until things resolve.
* with thanks to Phillip Arndt.
NEXT ISSUE: Feeling Not Good Enough
Jelila is an internationally acclaimed healer presently in Bali, offering clairvoyant healing, past lives, negative belief clearing, transforming meditations, healing CDs, and workshops. at: The Holistic Healing Centre, Kuta (Behind Dijon at Kuta Roundabout.)
Book now: 766259 Jelila: 081 239 43354 w: www.jelila.com (see full healing menu online) e: jelila@jelila.com.
Jelila welcomes comments and may be contacted on:
Email: jelila@jelila.com
Website: www.jelila.com or www.imagine-retreats.com
