 Photo credit: Pixabay “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:11,12) Those words were written by a man named Paul who was imprisoned in Rome—living in a house but not allowed to leave, chained to a guard 24/7. Content whatever the circumstances? How is that even a category? What was his secret? “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Imprisoned but free. Think about that. Paul was a man. A regular guy. If contentment and freedom like that were available to him, it’s available to us. I believe it’s not only through Christ’s Spirit that Paul was able to be free, but by Christ’s example. Who lived a life with more freedom than Jesus? He didn’t care what people thought of him, didn’t compare himself to anyone, wasn’t distracted by the massive number of people who came to him for healing, owned nothing and felt no need to. He took time off to rest even though he only had three years to train twelve guys to change the world. He succumbed to no pressure, and couldn’t be bought. No one could hold anything over him because he was free from everything that would trip the rest of us up. He focused only on the things that really mattered—his identity as the beloved son and being led by the Spirit, never taking his eyes off his mission. If you were free from, what would you be free to? You would be free to be the strongest, boldest, gentlest, kindest, most loving, present in the moment, most fearless, focused, truest version of yourself. Free to live with fearless liberty, free to pursue a life few ever find. Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe.
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 Photo Credit: Pixabay What if you could live your life and not care what anyone thinks? What if you weren’t distracted and discouraged by the drama, fear-mongering, societal pressure, and financial burdens that are so much a part of our lives? What if there wasn’t anything anyone could do that could ruin your mood or your day? If you could live your life this way, that would be freedom. Freedom is not “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” You may know your inalienable rights but the rights to truly being free may be alien to you. It’s not defined by external circumstances. Freedom is an internal condition. It’s not only freedom to, as in, do whatever you want, wherever, whenever, and however. It’s also freedom from. Freedom from is deeper and more powerful. It’s something no one can take from you. Not until you are free from can you be free to. Let’s say you win millions and millions of dollars in the lottery. Your first thought might be, “WHOO-HOO! I can quit my awful job, and have and do all the things I’ve always wanted to!” It’s true, you do have the financial freedom now to make those kinds of choices. But then, you have friends and family expecting you to cough up money for them and the government expecting you to fill their coffers. Your employer and co-workers expect your resignation, and society expects you to be resigned to volunteer for everything because they think Louie Armstrong is running “all the time in the world” in your head on a loop. Expectations. Responsibilities, real or imagined. Societal pressure. What if you lose it all? What if you lose your friends? What about maintaining, storing and insuring all the stuff you buy? You may end up more imprisoned in your life than you were before you won the lottery. But if you also have the ability to say “no” to all those requests, you would be freer. If you have the capacity to shut out the “shoulds” from your friends and family, that would be freeing. If you could take that great trip you always wanted to and not be distracted by what everyone thinks about you, what you might be missing or fearing that it could all be gone tomorrow, then you could be freer. Freedom is a state of mind. Come with me and we’ll find the road to that state. Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe.
 Photo Credit Pexels Pretty much without exception, if I know you, I am or have been jealous of you in some way, for some reason.
If you have a college degree higher than an Associates, I’m jealous of that. If you’re over 5 feet tall, I’m jealous of that. If your skin tans and doesn’t burn. If you can wear earrings. If you can focus your attention for any extended period of time. If you can wear more than one hairstyle. If you can figure out technology. If you can tell a story. If you can write fairly quickly. If you can be asked an impromptu question without your brain completely shutting down. I won’t go on, but I could. It’s important to note that I’m talking about jealousy, not envy. My desire to have what you have is jealousy. My desire that if I can’t have it, you can’t have it either, is envy. Jealousy starts the moment I turn my focus from me to you and decide that what I have is less in some way. It begins with comparison, and as Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” The good news is that we don’t have to be the losers in our own lives. We can fight against jealousy. Two mindsets help me. I say help because I will probably always struggle. The first is to be content and grateful for what we have. If we must compare, do it with broader perspective. Let it not be with the many who have more, but with the multitudes who have less. There is the saying “If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.” Focusing on that one sentence alone wipes out the vast majority of my “issues” AND helps me be grateful for the wealth I do have. “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” --Eckhart Tolle The second part is to focus forward. Everyone has a purpose, and our purposes are not in competition with each other. Jesus didn’t give the Great Competition. He gave the Great Co-Mission. There is room for everyone on the road, and we can help each other as we all move forward. When I look around at everyone else I lose focus on my own purpose. When I focus forward, I see my own path more clearly. If we focus on our own paths, and are grateful and content, we can see ourselves and others without the green lens on their supposedly greener grass, and we can love ourselves and them better. I don’t have to be jealous of you. That doesn’t mean I won’t be, but I can do something about it. #bethelove #ditchjealousy For an excellent and extraordinary four part podcast on envy, CLICK HERE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe. |
Applying nature's principles and systems to personal and cultural development.About CommentsI love to read comments and know how my work is helping you. Please respond with your first AND last names. Anonymous comments will not be read and may be deleted.
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