Be Free!

       There is a certain liberation that comes from choosing to simply let go. Releasing the desire to be proven right or vindicated for a wrong. Freeing yourself from making your joy contingent upon the action of others but rather finding peace within yourself, choosing to learn, and grow from every experience. Choosing not to be bitter, distrusting of others because of what you went through, or jaded toward the prospect that you can be whole again. Although this journey to freedom is not an easy one, it is definitely worth the effort to try if your desire is to live life rather than merely exist. When everything becomes filtered through the lens of pain it distorts our view.

       While watching the movie Ben Hur, last night with my family, a line jumped out at me that relates very much to this topic of freedom, “let it go…you’ve been given a second chance, spend it on hatred then you’re still a slave.” No spoiler here, you have to watch the movie to get the full essence of the quote. 😊 Nonetheless, it speaks to the point that when driven solely by a desire to get even, bitterness, or downright hatred (a word not many like to be associated with but honest evaluation & reflection can reveal it lives in the heart) we can slowly become our enemy, the very thing we despise.

       How many of us, if we are honest with ourselves, have spent far too long in a place of bitterness, hurt, anger, and downright denial of our damaged emotional state? There is a quote my husband often uses, “Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond.” Wow! What a powerful concept. While we can acknowledge that there are many factors in our lives that are beyond our ability to control and were horrible to experience, we still have the power and right to decide if and how we let those circumstances impact our spiritual, mental, emotional, and sometimes physical well being. Shifting our position from victim to victor, refusing with every ounce of strength we have left and can muster to not let the issues, circumstances, and tragedy define the rest of our lives. Taking back our power and right to not let the ghost of our past, whether distant or very recent, haunt our present/future and snatch away the prospect that life can be better. Make the choice to BE FREE!

Thoughts to ponder & questions to consider:

Affirmation