We build the towers that contain us and then we expect someone to save us from it. We laid down every brick, we poured the cement and we decide how high the walls will be. Even if someone manages to infiltrate your fortress, they cannot save you, because the foundations are a part of you. When you're ready you will leave the tower or you will stay there indefinitely. It is up to you. You are not a victim, you are not helpless and only you know where the key is hidden.
So far we have focussed a lot on the ego, how we lie to ourselves, and why it is necessary to let go. Today I want to be a little more pro-active and rather focus on things that we have more control over and is very much in our power to change. I call this the 7 Pillars of the Self, because lets face it is catchy...This is just one of my self-indulgent ways of explaining to you how I experience the world, so please humour me. Master the 7 Pillars and you master yourself.
1. The Mind - Everything starts off as a thought, be it positive or negative if you allow it to take over, it will. The mind is the centre of your thoughts, and thoughts are the triggers of your emotions. If you can identify your "trigger thoughts" you can stabilise your emotions. Of the 7 Pillars the mind is my favourite, if it is not flooded with emotions it can rationally, coolly and calmly guide you. Calm your mind by breathing, do something creative and allow your imagination to take you on adventures. Be aware of your tendency for negative thoughts and try to override them the moment you become aware of them.
2. The Heart - I hope you have a better relationship with your heart than I do. Of all the pillars it is by far the most deceiving. It seems to have its own agenda, it claims to know things that I can neither prove nor understand. It leads you to places where it can break itself open, where it can bleed and forever change you and I for one have no idea why it loves to be hurt so much. In Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist the title character says that the heart has its own language, a language we don't always understand, but we have to be quiet and learn to listen to what it has to say. The heart craves beauty and story, it hopes for things as it should be, but the world we live in doesn't quite live up to its expectations. To know your heart is to know yourself. It doesn't lead us to what we want it leads us to what we need and understanding the reason for its deception will set you free.
3.The Soul - When I refer to the soul, I mean that part of you that doesn't give up, the part that believes you can achieve things. The spirited part that drives you, that wants you to advance and grow. The soul I believe is that something that wants to break free from the shackles life has forced upon it. It wants to soar. It is the guardian of your ultimate truth, the keeper of your light.
4. The Body - When we take a good look at our physical appearance, we have to admit that most of us look quite unhealthy. I do not mean we are overweight, but most of us seem almost dull. We stuff our bodies with junk, we don't exercise enough and we just exist in these vessels that are not even an eighth of what they could be, and we just accept it, because beauty is on the inside and all that rubbish. I know I am being rather harsh, I have always hated that saying...or rather excuse because most people don't take the time to work on their internal world much either. The body is something we need to conquer, but we don't, because it takes discipline, hard work and sacrifice...please note I am the most guilty person here. I have never mastered my body, it is an ongoing battle, but it is a noble cause, and also exercise makes you feel so much happier.
5. The Goals - If you are going to focus your energy on other people you are going to be greatly disappointed...I don't mean screw people, just don't allow other people and how they react to you affect you. We are all looking for meaning, for a sense of who we are, and the safest way to explore this is by setting goals...what do you want to achieve? I am not only referring to the "How am I going to make money and survive" goal but also answer the following question for yourself. "What do I want to put out into the world, what do I want to say? What do I want? If you can answer this truthfully, you are halfway there.
6. The Dreams - This one is linked to the goals, but the goals we approach in a much more analytical fashion, the goals break down what you want and how you are going to achieve it. Where the dreams are more ethereal and self-indulgent. It is those things that if only you could you'd do them...things like being a rock star. All goals first start of as a dream, so the two go hand and hand. Dream as big as you wish, your goals will help you achieve them.
7. The Service - To truly master yourself you are going to have to submerge yourself in the world you are given. I know there a lot of people who will disagree with me on this one, but hear me out. I mean you are going to have to learn how to serve, how to give without expecting anything in return...this is extremely difficult. Given everything you have learned about yourself how are you going to use your unique skill set to serve the world and the creatures that reside in it.
The time has come to free yourself from your tower. The world is in need of few good, complete and free princesses. Master the 7 Pillars and Master yourself.
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