Encouraging Words by Dennis Merritt Jones, DD
In oneself lies the whole world, and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. No one else can provide you with the key or the door to open, except yourself. ~ JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI
Have you ever felt trapped in a negative circumstance with no way out? I am reminded of an ancient parable that tells of a man trapped in a dark, damp prison cell, feeling depressed and isolated. Every night when the guard was sleeping, the man would push against the cell door with all his might in a futile attempt to escape. After months of fruitless effort, he finally dropped to his knees and prayed for guidance saying, “Dear God, show me the way out of here.” A gentle voice whispered, “Sometimes the best way out is in.” Suddenly, a strong wind blew the door inward, revealing it had never been locked. The man realized his mistake: he had been so focused on pushing that he never considered pulling the door.
As he stealthily passed by the sleeping guard, he learned a valuable lesson: appearances can deceive, and the limitations we feel are often self-imposed. The key to freedom lies in our consciousness and awareness. By changing our perspective, we can change our experience of reality.
This story illustrates an important principle: our consciousness—shaped by our beliefs and perceptions—determines our experience of the world. When we face problems, we often push mindlessly and vehemently against them, feeling helpless and hopeless. Obscured by the kerfuffle of our current mindset we fail to see that the solution lies within us, Krishnamurti’s teachings emphasize the need to look deeply and learn to free ourselves from self-imposed prisons.
To adopt this mindset, consider these mindfulness practices:
- Be Present in the Moment: Awareness in the present empowers us to observe both external conditions and internal states, paving the way for tapping into our inner power.
- Get Out of Denial: Acknowledge our current situation. Awareness empowers us to change it, beginning the process of seeing through new eyes.
- Practice Self Awareness: Vigilantly monitor our thoughts and beliefs, understanding that our consciousness shapes our reality. Remain vigilant against complacency.
- Challenge the Problem: Examine and challenge the beliefs contributing to our problems. This helps us reclaim power from the “prison guard” of our old consciousness.
- Be Open for Guidance: Instead of wrestling with problems, surrender to inner solutions. Invoke divine presence and ask for guidance, being patient and receptive to insights.
These steps help cultivate a shift in consciousness, enabling us to perceive problems differently. While outer conditions may not change instantly, our perception will shift, bringing new causes and effects. The key to freedom is already within us, and by adjusting our consciousness, we can unlock any challenge we face.
THE TAKEAWAY: The way out of most of our problems lies within. By mindfully stepping back, breathing deeply, listening, and making space for new awareness, we can reframe any moment. As Ernest Holmes noted, “We are bound because we are first free, and the power which binds us is the only thing in the universe which can free us.” Understanding this puts the key to the cell door directly in our hands and allows us to break free from our self-imposed limitations. Discovering the freedom that lies within isn’t all that difficult once we cease pushing against what is. Take a step back and remember that often the best way out is IN.
Peace, Dennis Merritt Jones, DD