In the previous week, I spent time observing the conduct of accused and detained persons in police custody. I have also over time had the chance to chat with some of them on their experiences within and without custody. One thing that has always stood out with these guys is their portrayal of the fact that freedom is good. My own imagination shutters on the thought of detainment of whichever form. I can bet that even those under house arrest feel the pinch of curtailed freedom. It’s much easier to stay indoors for a week watching movies on your own volition than to be ordered to remain indoors by a certain authority.
I have heard of stories about monitored movements, restricted interactions with the free world, rationed food, uncomfortable sleep, compromised sanitation amongst many other forms of restrictions. Each time I hear of such, I increase the value I have placed on freedom. Human beings were never created to be restricted; rather, to be free and exercise their potential without limits. It becomes difficult for one’s mission in life to be accomplished with restricted geographical, emotional, mental, financial and social space. Many people regret finding themselves on the wrong side of the law once their freedom gets ‘confiscated’; of course to the effectiveness of the prisons service. Indeed, one gets to appreciate the importance of light when darkness is introduced!
The most dangerous form of freedom curtailment is that of the mind. Many people appear free on the outside when their minds are detained. Huge elephants get controlled with a tiny rope on the leg because they lack freedom of the mind. Many people have condemned themselves to mediocrity because their minds have been detained by their past, by fear, by environment and many other factors. Sometimes back I remember staring at a photo of a horse tamed by a rope tied on a simple plastic chair. The story behind it was that the horse had previously gotten used to bring tied on a tree trunk and that would restrict it’s movement. Over time, the horse learnt to associate the rope with restriction without paying attention to where the rope had been tied.
The only trusted ingredient for accomplishment is action. Action is the physical manifestation of your thoughts. Action is the spill over of your thoughts into the physical world. When your mind gets restricted, your thoughts are restricted and that imprisons your actions. You take action consistent to the level of restrictions in your mind. If your mind believes that you cannot succeed without a ‘godfather’ in the system, you behave like that horse tied on a plastic chair. You stop processing innovative thoughts and actions. Your potential gets tied to the plastic chair as well! If your current job becomes the plastic chair on which your mind is tied, you will do anything including the unorthodox to keep it. Little do you realize that your true potential remains tied on that chair as well.
Freedom of whichever nature is undoubtedly sweet; you need it, we all need it. Just as those in custody celebrate when they get released back to the free space, so should you when you untie your mind from that plastic chair. Freedom of the mind is much more important the physical freedom because the physical world relies on the mental world. The zeal with which people fight in the corridors of justice should be doubled when fighting to liberate a detained mind. A negative mind, a pessimistic mind, a dependant mind, a tired and lazy mind are all minds in detention. Liberate your own by surrounding yourself with positive minded people, reading self help books, attending personal development seminars such as the ones periodically organized by Focus Talk, being a member of a self development group/club such as Toastmasters, Sense101 Life Club and Creative Intimacy, watching and listening to uplifting messages. It’s about what you feed your mind.
With a liberated mind, YOU CAN DO BETTER!
Roy Okonji,
Personal Development Coach, Conference and Motivational Speaker and Author.
Like it….share it!
You must be logged in to post a comment.