bb_article_Jul42000

Free at Last

By Becki Balok

The chains that bind us today are not made of metal but of thought.

Thoughts about the past keep us chained, riveted, locked in moments that cannot be undone.

Thoughts about the future keep us lost in moments that have yet to be.

Thoughts about what he said or did, what she said or did, and what they said or did -- keep us bound to moments that no longer exist.

Celebrating our country's freedom from tyranny this July 4^th, let us also celebrate our personal freedom from thoughts that keep us down, stuck, lost. Let us celebrate our personal sacred freedom to live only in this particular moment.

Today, let's be free of every thought that we are unworthy. Unlovable. Not good enough.

Let us be free of every thought that says we are sick, unhealthy; that we inherit disease.

Let us be free of every 'I can't' or 'I'm afraid' thought.

Let us be free of every memory of what our parents, families, or teachers did to us.

Let us be free of every thought that controls or manipulates another to our way of thinking, acting, behaving.

Let us be free of every thought that says we cannot possibly forgive someone else; that we can't possibly love someone else.

Let us be free of every thought that encourages us to be less than truthful.

To create a space for freedom, unchain, release and let go of these thoughts. To keep them from coming back, make a commitment to focus your attention only on what you want -- not on what you are experiencing.

Let's be free to be unlimited, to take a risk, to dream. To expect only the best.

Let's be free to be healed, whole, perfect, in spite of appearances to the contrary.

Let's be free to believe that all things are possible.

Let's be free from our past, whatever happened, acknowledging the pain and moving on, stronger, smarter.

Let's be free to release our future, whatever happens, trusting that it will be perfect someway, somehow.

Let's be free to let others feel about us however they choose. Let's be free to do the same.

Let's be free to give the gift of our love to each person we meet. Perhaps our gift is just a smile, a handshake, a hug. Perhaps, it is walking away from them.

Let us be free to be who we truly are right here, right now: loving, kind, compassionate, honest, patient, and forgiving.

Let us be free to focus only on this particular moment. It is a sacred space. A space of freedom from what we were. A space of freedom for all that we may become.

And it is in this precious moment, this glorious space that we shout -- 'Free at last. Free forever.' -- it's what life is all about.