Independence is a beautiful thing. Countries strive and fight for it. Teenagers crave it. Wild animals deserve it. The desire to be free of the things that hold us back is the nature of all living things. But what if the thing that’s holding us back from the freedom to enjoy our lives is our own mind?
It happens.
As we celebrate our national independence this month, I invite you to declare your independence from two habits of the human mind that rob us of our peace and the freedom to enjoy our life experience. They are tyrants, but they can be overthrown.
The first is…
Comparison. When we compare ourselves to anyone else, we lose. It doesn’t matter if we see ourselves as coming out on top, or woefully behind, our attention and energy have been diverted away from living our life, learning our lessons, enjoying our blessings, rising above our challenges and shining brightly.
Comparison might feel like a useful measuring stick to see “how we’re doing” in life, but the truth is each one of us has our own unique path to walk, lessons to learn, gifts to share, and Divine timing to guide it all. To observe another person and determine that they aren’t where they should be (or look how they should look, or have accomplished what they should accomplish) is erroneous. It is equally unhelpful to shame ourselves for not doing better than we have, or to congratulate ourselves for being superior. It’s all the same useless ramblings of our egoic mind.
Focus on the calling of your heart. Go for the things that bring you joy and a sense of fulfillment. It matters not how that “measures up” to anyone else. Live your life. Run your race. Boldly live the life your heart is calling you toward, and give others the same courtesy.
The other freedom thief is rumination. Allowing our mind to loop around the same sad story of how we blew it, or how we were done wrong, or how life is unfair to us, is a waste of our precious lives. If left to its own devices, our egoic mind loves to do this. It feels satisfying at some level, to keep our sad story on repeat and marinate in those “life isn’t the way it’s supposed to be” thoughts. Nonsense.
To break this cycle, bring your awareness to your thoughts, and harness them. As Solomon Katz says in his book, Beauty as a State of Being, “The galloping horse of mind actually has reins.” Use them. Refuse to indulge the thinking that there’s anything wrong with you or life. Keep your attention on the present moment and do your best at whatever you’re doing and let the rest go. Life is only ever this moment. When you are living in the Now instead of ruminating about the past, you are enjoying the freedom that is available to us all. Claim it.
Happy Independence Day to you!
If you would like help freeing your mind of these habits of thought or anything else, please schedule a free 30 minute call with me and we’ll explore how life coaching can help you create the life you desire.
