All of my life, I have felt I was under pressure from Society to be this or that kind of person. So I would receive love and understanding from my peers. I was taught how to behave very properly, so I would be accepted. I would be welcomed, and if I could, belong. No matter what I did, I have never felt like I belonged. So today, I declare my independence. I will be totally responsible for all my reactions, wrong assumptions, opinions, and beliefs. In short, responsible for my whole life.
Declaring your independence!
On July 4th 1776, the American states declared their independence from England. They had reached the end of their rope and broke free. At any given moment of my life, I can do the same and declare independence from all my old connections to people, places, problems, fears, my past, and events. This is so curious because this declaration starts the real battle, which is within. Declaring my independence will cause an inner revolution inside. Vernon Howard tells endless stories about self independence to help people become inwardly free.
Old problems magically disappear!
And it’s best not to tell others of your escape plans. Because this is an individual revolution. Realize; because you’re still learning, if you fail, it’s OK. You simply start your life all over and do this as many times as necessary. Your old habits will cry out. “This is impossible.” And that’s OK, because you’re tired of those old habits, and they are the ones who are on their way out. Begin to understand something new. You will witness old problems that used to consume your mind and feelings- magically disappear.
A new inner freedom!
The phrase “My cup runneth over” comes to mind. A lightness in spirit and a new inner freedom become yours. Understand and put to work this marvelous truth; “Find out who you are, by finding out who you are not.” -Vernon Howard Get utterly tired of living with dis-satisfaction, for it is not necessary.
Give yourself total permission to make as many mistakes as you may to break free of all that ties you down. “Flop your way to the top.” Your old nature plays it safe, by taking no chances, so it doesn’t have to see its mistakes. This keeps it in place, which keeps you miserable. Go beyond that.
Taking back your life, declaring your independence, is a process in which you simply make bold choices for yourself. An example, “I am done with complaining about anything.” You will then later catch yourself on the phone having a complainfest with a friend. Shocked, yes. You failed in one way, but you learned something also. You learned about your actual nature, which makes you wise about all of human nature. So you reset your aim about not complaining, and catch yourself 2 days later calling your toaster dumb. Now instead of accusing yourself of flopping, you are very interested in this whole process of complaints. If you continue with your aim which you should, you will then discover others have the same problem and don’t know about it. It just goes on unconsciously. We love to join the pool of complaining and share our complaints with others. More wisdom and curiosity is born, how far does this go? you ask yourself. You are now learning how to save your energy for more aims to take your life back. The path out is endless.
So true! Never in my whole life have I been so happy to make mistakes and fail! The path to inner freedom is in failure and mistakes, and learning from them.
The funny thing is, since I was much younger, my own motto has been ‘You can’t find out who you are until you find out who you’re not’ – and it’s so true. The realisation that who I am can never be described or even thought about.
And declaring my independence, no matter what the consequences, has made life lighter and more freeing.
Honour Life by living in Truth.