Do you accept "reality" as gospel? Are you one of those people who says, "This is how the real world works," and accepts the status-quo? Have you ever wondered why the words "real world" are used almost always in a negative context?
Since you are reading a blog called "Change Your Thoughts" I'll assume that you are not entirely satisfied with how things are. So let's take the red pill, and go down the rabbit hole.
You are ready to escape the Matrix, or at the very least, you've become conscious that to one extent or another, you are trapped in one.
What is a Matrix?
– Morpheus
To apply it to this situation, the matrix many of us are trapped in is the "reality" offered to us by society. We are expected pretty much since we are born, to behave in a certain way, to work for certain things, to get good grades, to get a good job, to have insurance of all kinds, to worry about pension, to raise kids and put them through the same motions as we went through, and thus being a part of one never ending cycle which is paved with good intentions, but littered with crushed souls.
How do you get out of it?
You get out of it by accepting that you don't have to be what the world wants you to be. Yes, you should love your parents, and be nice to them, and care for them in whatever way you can. But you don't have to live their dreams. You need to live your dreams. Yes, you should respect your spouse's wishes and consider their opinions. But you are not working for them. You are working for you.
Do you remember at some point in your life feeling the inner fire? Whether it's super-fast beating of your chest, or just this feeling – this fiery, passionate feeling as if you are going to burst if you don't work right now on whatever this amazing ting is. If you have, congratulations. I urge you to remember it.
If you haven't, don't worry, it's never too late. It just means that you are trapped in the matrix more solidly. It doesn't mean you can't get out.
I'm going to show one SOLID technique that will help you become aware of the matrix around you, how deep you are stuck in it, and to what extent you need to get out
This technique is JOURNALING
How Journaling Can Help You Escape The Matrix
Awareness
Writing things down is way underrated. The actual process of putting words on paper helps you pay more attention to them, and to a certain extent remember them. When you write things down, they get embedded deeper in your memory than they otherwise would. Paying attention is the key when you start recording pieces of your life.
How do you spend your time, who do you spend it with, what do you enjoy and what makes you miserable? What are the things you wish you didn't have to do? What are the things you wish you could do more of?
Answering all of these questions, frequently and honestly, will lead to more awareness of yourself, of your environment, and of your life.
Analysis
Don't just record things. Analyze it. What you have in your journal is a goldmine of information. It doesn't matter how good your memory is, we all forget stuff. Also, our memory is colored by our perception, so often what you remember about the past is based on how you feel today rather than what actually happened, or how you actually felt.
That's where looking back in your journals can help you gather the facts.
You now have the awareness of what you are doing with your life. Dissect that information. Why are you doing the things you are doing?
Why is your life today the way it is? When did it start? Did you make any conscious decisions along the way, or you simply fell into various situations and went with the flow?
What are the things and situations you regret? What do you wish you could change? What makes you feel like you are trapped?
Escape Plan
From previous two steps, you have your WHAT and WHY. Now, you are going to figure out HOW.
Look back to your analysis. Focus on the things that make you feel most trapped.
Make a list. Include all of those things. Be honest. It takes courage to acknowledge that everything is not hunky-dory. Be brave.
Now pick the ONE thing that is making you most miserable. You could start with the easiest, and think that it might give you more confidence to tackle the difficult things. But more than likely, it's going to make you complacent, or satisfied with small victories.
So start as you mean to go on.
Start big.
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