[cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]A few years ago my pastor used an example to show how people can get trapped in their minds. The illustration was that of a circus bear that had been in a cage most of its life. When the bear got too old for the circus it was taken to the woods to be set free. The cage was opened but the bear did not come out. Instead, it would do what it had done most of its life – it would walk from one end of the cage, turn, and walk to the other end. It would repeatedly do this, even with the cage being open. They finally prodded the bear, forcing it out. When it was finally out in the open the bear stood up, paced a few steps, turned, paced a few more and turned – though the bear was free the bear was still in the cage in its mind.
Trapped
Though my pastor was using the illustration to show the spiritual side of things the circus bear is a perfect example of what happens to us in our pursuit of living. Many times we can be legitimately stuck in a cage. It could be a financial cage, a cultural cage, a self-confidence cage, a status-quo cage, a cage of class – there are many cages we can find ourselves in. This is why we work, we push, we fight to overcome those cages. For some the fight is harder than others, the road longer than others but we all have obstacles to overcome. In the end, if we persevere, we can overcome those cages and get free.
Yet, being free from our cages does not mean we are ready to run into the forest. The cages we have lived in can set up artificial boundaries in our minds. And the longer and more enclosed we are locked in our cage the more entrenched are those boundaries. Just like the circus bear that was freed we pace back in forth in those boundaries in our minds. One may have worked hard to escape the financial cage but still find themselves always in a panic about money. One may have fought to overcome stereotypes of their culture but once accepted they may continue to fight and in the end alienate themselves. Another may have pushed to get out of a rough neighborhood but once out they kept the same attitude and continued to behave in the same rough ways. Our cages do shape us, there is no denying that fact, but they do not have to define us.
Freedom
Stepping outside the cage for the first time can be frightening. One does not know what to expect because it is all new. Because of such it can take time to acclimate to the freedom. While one acclimates it is easy to fall back to how one used to be. This is that cage in the mind. If my cage was financial and I finally got free of that cage I may still react negatively when I am told the price of things, when others ask for help, or still hold the “rich” in contempt. If your cage was self confidence and you finally got comfortable and confident in who you are you may recoil back to your timid self when asked to do an impromptu speech. Just because we are free does not we are free right away.
Some may be able to fly in the freedom right away but I suspect most of us take time to acclimate to it. And it does take time to learn the new nuances of our freedoms. Being free of the financial cage does not mean automatically being a financial whiz. It will take time to learn how to invest wisely, what is necessary and what is frivolous spending. The self confident cage may be gone but it does not mean its affects are gone. It will take time to lean on the new confidence when presented with new challenges and not revert back to the old, confined self. It takes time to get acclimated.
Though it takes time to get used to the freedom one has to first venture out into that freedom. Had the circus bear paced just a couple more steps it could have slowly realized the cage was not there anymore. Then, when that realization had taken hold the bear could have moved around in larger and larger areas as it started living in its new freedom. It all begins with that first step into the new freedom. Without it we, just like the bear, will forever be stuck in that cage in our minds. But, there is hope because there is freedom to be had. We simply have to start taking steps into our new freedoms.
Live Free
As we look to live our lives and pursue our passions let us take stock of the cages we find ourselves in. Are they useful or are they hindering? Can they be overcome? What do we do when they are overcome? Are the cages real or are they in my head? And if they are in my head how can I take that first step to living in freedom? These are all important questions that we must evaluate and answer. It is in those questions we can start to see ourselves better and know what cages and boundaries we live in – real or in our minds. And when that realization comes then comes the exciting part – breaking free of the cage and living free.
What about you? What cages do you have around yourself? What cages are still in your mind that keep you from living free? I know I myself have been in many cages, some were real but most were in my mind. Just like the circus bear, I would pace back in forth, stuck, never enjoying the forest around me. But thank God I have started to realize the cage is gone, the forest is wide open, it just starts with that first step in freedom. Let us stop pacing back and forth, breaking free of the cages in our minds. Let us live free and not be like a circus bear in its cage!
Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]