The Mindcage…
Consider this story as a prelude of many stories to come, just as an abstract appetizer to illustrate the situation we are in.
I do see that we live in a world which technically speaking has better conditions than let’s say 10 years ago and I am an optimist. But what fires me up is this limited construct in our mind we are raised, educated and talked into and consequently keep on imprisoning ourselves into. It is like being imprisoned in our own ‘mindcage’ that doesn’t allow us to reach full potential. And for most people, when we talk about it, it all seem so clear and obvious, yet barely nobody (especially in leadership positions) is breaking the chains.
We live in an utopia but we are programmed to not see nor belief it – pretty shocking. It is like we are all in the ‘truman show’, no I am not a flat-earther (people, anno 2019, that believe the world is flat and we all live in one big conspiracy), just want to show you that we are unknowingly stuck in a reality which doesn’t allow us to see the bigger picture. Why is this? Why can’t we see beyond our ‘mindcage’ and see a world in which war is obsolete, 40+ hour workweeks are old concepts, sitting in a classroom for decades is stagnating one’s development, having possessions is old school, looking perfect e.g. all-the-same is silly and nobody has to starve.
Luckily since childhood we are taught to be authentic, to explore our passions and the things we dream of, to think about the things that we are grateful off and how we can live a sustainably happy life. In addition, we learn that we should not be afraid of the things that won’t harm us, such as being laughed at when you express something you are passionate about or present a very silly opposing view or to share and explain your emotions when something good or bad happens to you. Oh wait, that was actually all ironic!!
The truth is that our unelected life coaches – to summaries everybody that has an influence on our upbringing and development such as teachers, friends, media, governments, religion and parents (with best intentions) – actually constantly warn us about the dangers in life. Who doesn’t know a variant of the saying “Money doesn’t make you happy BUT it does make life easy”? This is what we hear all the time, saying in a subtle way that in fact “money does make you happy!”. It’s these subtle and camouflaged ‘fears’ that accumulate unnoticed over time and as bricks create a wall around our mind leading to “a perfect mindcage”.
And even though it is shocking to know that it is estimated still about 12 million people are living as slaves in this world, which is terrible, we have also overcome largely this shameful history of our nations. And yet, millions of people put themselves voluntarily into positions which keep their instinctive fight-or-fight mechanism more alert than ever before! Why do we still get ourselves entangled in burdensome positions in which we have to ‘fight’ and ‘survive’ to get ‘enough’ money for our ‘basic needs’ as if this is a primary concern in an age there is an abundance of everything? What is necessary to break free from our mindcage?