A youth in juvenile hall inspired this post. They wrote of how freedom is never truly taken from us. At least, not freedom of spirit or belief. They referenced their own personal power and establishing as they said it, “Belief In Me”.
No one has monopoly on belief. Which means that no one has monopoly on circumstance. We have the ultimate power over circumstance because we have the power over what we choose to believe about the circumstances we face. What we believe about a circumstance is our truth of that circumstance.
The youth in juvenile hall referenced mindset, perspective, and choice. Saying that while their physical freedom may be limited, they still have yet to meet any circumstance that does not offer a choice.
Choice of hope or despair, positive or negative mindsets. Engaging in the moments at hand or shrinking away to the dark. Even their acknowledgement of choice speaks to their strength of belief.
Rather than confirming our worst fears, this truth can be a testament to the restoration of our faith in the ultimate power of belief. Our Faith and Belief are beyond the intervening hands of mortal men.
How humbling it is to acknowledge that a youth in juvenile hall, half my age, has the courage, faith, and insight to create a truth of self and circumstance that leads to the granting of their soul’s freedom. We all would be wise to heed this youth’s message and take note.
For in this moment, ego aside, they are teacher, and we are student. The teacher will only appear when the student is ready. Are we ready?
Even if not behind bars, many may feel they are prisoners to circumstance. But does this youth’s insight invite us to take a different view?
We must have the faith and courage to look through a different lens. Perhaps we should consider the possibility that the story we thought we knew so well, is not limited, or defined as we first thought. We can rewrite the narrative and engage in the act of meaning making – no matter the circumstances.
So, what meaning will we write of our own life and its circumstance?
Even if we got in our own way. Past mistakes can become opportunities for growth. With reflection, we can still write a meaning based on a newfound faith in the strength of the soul and the power of belief. Finally, we can release ourselves from bondage either inflicted by others or by the self.
Thanks For Reading. Sincerely, Kurt Petersen
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Further reading about the ‘Power of Belief’ and ‘Belief in Me’
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/jacobs-staff/201504/what-we-choose-believe-the-power-belief