On Top

Traditional thinking, what we have been taught and learned, has lead us to believe that the journey to freedom is meant to be hard and sometimes painful. That respect, love, and acceptance have to be earned, and in extreme teachings will only be had once you love and respect yourself.

This manner of viewing the world and our relationships with all living beings seems to be a somewhat restrictive way of thinking, interacting, and growing. 

Sometimes it feels like the rules we learned from the generations that proceeded is the only gaze from which to view life. As if we somehow forgot, got distracted from the simple fact that we are free to choose our thoughts, our moral guidelines. Free from the past, free from the social persuasion that seemingly bombards every moment of every day.

I often consider what life would be like, what my life could become if I choose to jettison the beliefs that have served their purpose yet are no longer needed. That is, in fact, now holding me back. I wonder what life would feel like if the path to freedom was not viewed as a journey to the pit of Dante's hell but rather viewed as a beautiful journey to your true self.

I do not believe that so-called personal transformation needs to be painful, and I sometimes wonder if this concept has been a well-designed product that makes us feel as if we are getting our money's worth. As if this alone is evidence of personal evolution, personal growth.

I believe that the path to personal freedom is as simple as a well-balanced decision designed to serve you in a considered manner. We all wake to the same sunrise every day; some choose to see its beauty, some decide to interact, and some choose to block it out, continuing to live an existence they may not even desire. A reality grounded in fear, imprisoned by the walls of a constant state of the same.

The fears we feel, share, and experience, are in some ways, the best guides to finding the true path to exactly what we need to be doing.

I want to change my career, do something I love,

“I might fail; I might not be successful."

I want to talk to that beautiful person,

"I might get rejected; make a fool of myself."

The mountain looks like a challenging climb,

"I might fail; I might not make it to the top."

The mountain was challenging, yet on that day, I could not imagine a better thing to do with my time.