THE ART OF FREEDOM

Do not let anything in life be important enough that you’re willing to close your heart over it.

-Michael A. Singer

 Life is in constant change. In fact, how often do we refer to life as a roller coaster? I think that, to an extent, we have all felt the dips and highs of this ride. What I have noticed is that during our blissful moments, we feel a limitless flow of energy and drive. Think of the last time you were in love, or you were praised for an award or achievement, in these moments you felt a surge of energy from within. Now think of a time you felt under-appreciated or judged. Suddenly, the energy flow ceased and you were left feeling low, sluggish, and disinterested.

Freedom is the ability to remain open to all circumstances, rather than allow situations to block your heart and close your mind. When you close your heart or close your mind, you hide in the darkness within. There is no light. There is no energy. There is nothing flowing. Flow is foundational to our growth. We must learn not to take things personally. We should not let anything in life be important enough that we’re willing to close our heart over it. Instead, what is needed is openness and receptivity.

What you need to know is that opening allows energy in, and closing blocks it out. Now you have to decide whether or not you want this energy. How joyful to you want to be? How much love do you want to feel? How much enthusiasm do you want to have for the things you do? If enjoying a full life means experiencing high energy, love, and enthusiasm all the time, then don’t ever close. Then, and only then, will you experience true freedom.

If you really want to stay open, pay attention when you feel love and enthusiasm. Then ask yourself why you can’t feel this all the time. Why does it have to go away? The answer is clear: it only goes away if you choose to close. By closing, you are making the decision not to feel openness and love. You throw love away all the time. You feel love until somebody does something you don’t like, and then you give up on love. You feel enthused about your job until someone criticizes something, and then you want to quit. It’s your choice.

You can either close because you don’t like what happened, or you can keep feeling love and enthusiasm by not closing. As long as you are defining what you like and what you don’t like, you will open and close. You are actually defining your limits. You are allowing your mind to create triggers that open and close you. Let go of that.

Dare to be different. Enjoy all of life.