Thursday, August 13, 2009

Unlocking the Door to Your Personal Prison


Depression, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness, anger, frustration, dependence, rejection, loneliness, and more.

Everyone feels one or more of these feelings at one time or another.

You can't wish them away and these feelings can make you feel like you're in a prison or hell where the door is locked tight. You can't think of a way out, there are no windows and the door has been shut for so long, you don't even know if there's a key to it anymore. If there is, you sure don't remember where to find it.
It is important to realize that the door to your personal prison locks from the inside. You walked in and you can walk right out anytime you want. No one put you there but you. Sure circumstances happened, but it is how you believe those circumstances affect you that will determine whether or not you cross the threshold of that doorway into the darkness or the light.

There are 3 basic components to walking in or out through the prison door.

1-Freedom
2-Choice
3-Responsibility

We are free to choose to start looking for a way out
We are free to choose to stop looking for a way out
We are free to choose to try to make things different
We are free to choose to give up and accept what we perceive as our "lot" in life.

Whatever we choose, it is our choice. We must be responsible for that choice.

It may not have been your choice that your loved one died
It may not have been your choice that you lost your job/house/car
It may not have been your choice that .......you fill in the blank

But it
is your choice how you respond to that situation. And that my friend, is what you are responsible for. So you have the key to go in and you have the key to go out. Any time you wish.

Owning your actions and feelings does not completely solve the problem, but it is the first gigantic step in moving toward feeling something different. It is a huge relief to know that life isn't just happening to you. That you can take your control back and make your life what you want it to be. You hold the key at all times, you always have.

While, you may not control all circumstances in life, you control you. You control how you react and how you respond.

Locking yourself in prison or a personal hell is purely a personal decision. You may walk in by mistake, but if you don't like how it feels, unlock the door and get out quick!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for your comments.

About Me

My photo
Colleen Carnahan is known for her razor sharp intuition and solution focused problem solving skills. She has been studying the spiritual and humanistic side of psychology and self-improvement for over 25 years. She holds a BA in both Psychology and Sociology from Wayne State University and completed the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Program at The Michigan School of Professional Psychology (MiSPP). She is certified by Common Ground Sanctuary as a Crisis Intervention Specialist, certified by the State of Michigan as a Bankruptcy Counselor and holds a Reiki I proficiency. She previously worked in the corporate world as the Vice President of Operations and Personnel for 10+ years.She has a deep love for animals, nature, living a healthy lifestyle and running marathons.