What is the key to freedom?

Each day, we encounter countless experiences that shape our inner and external perception of the world.

Whether it's politics, social, or economical issues, there's always something new we're learning or discovering that has the potential to leave us with a sense of clutter and confusion.

With the popularity of social media continuing to reach new highs every day it's crucial now more than ever to become vigilant of what we allow in our mental space. Because whether we're aware of it or not, everything we see gets subconsciously absorbed and alters our behaviors towards ourselves and others.

We've all seen or heard the warning cries about the 'matrix' and the dangers of running on the perpetual hamster wheel. With all these cautions against becoming mentally 'enslaved' we feel it crucial to talk about freedom and how to obtain it.

It is our fervent belief that the only key to freedom, true mental freedom is via self-examination -- the practice of looking inward to acknowledge, trace the roots, and dissect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

How else can we identify if our thoughts are our own or just a record playing someone else's tune?

Self-examination is not a new concept but it is an underrated and understudied one. It involves reflecting on our daily experiences and consciously considering how each decision we make aligns with our values and goals.

How our lunch choice brings us closer or further from who we want to be. How our choice in partner reflects our biases of how life should be. How our habits draw on our core desires, and why we allow certain thought processes to persist.

This process of constant deliberation, relfection, and optimization can liberate us from the constraints of mental jail cells that we've placed ourselves in given pressure from external forces like infleuncers we see on social media or people in our daily lives.

Unexamined habits shape our future as much as conscious ones.

Philosopher Socrates famously said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." This ancient wisdom reinforces the idea that regularly examining ourselves allows us the privilege to uncover subconscious patterns that hold us back so we can consciously overcome them.

Charting Your Course

The first step in understanding how to effectively change ourselves and circumstances is by recognizing that there's nothing wrong with evolution. Just because you may not be who or where you to be in life doesn't mean you can't achieve that goal eventually.

It starts with simple daily actions that compound over time.

As you delineate the person and life you want to manifest, consider these prompts as navigational tools:

Reflect on Today: What were the most significant events or interactions you sought out today? How did they make you feel?
Identify Patterns: Have you noticed any recurring thoughts or behaviors? How do they impact your behaviors and mood?
Align with Values: Do your actions today align with your core values? If not, what changes can you make to act with more integrity?
Set Intentions: What are your intentions for tomorrow? How can you set yourself up today for the best possible tomorrow?
Explore Challenges: What challenges did you face today? How did you respond, and what can you learn from them?

By regularly reflecting, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and can therefore make better informed conscious choices that lead to personal and mental freedom. Journaling these thoughts helps us articulate our inner world and track our growth along the way.

As you navigate yourself, embrace the practice of looking inward and know that no matter what you uncover it's a positive step in the right direction.

Emotions, tough or gentle, are there for a reason. They need to be felt and understood as they're your body's way of telling you something you need to hear.

With each reflective entry in your journal, remember it's YOU who you're helping and working for. YOU are worth the effort.