#372 – How will obsessing about things block your path to freedom?

Obsessing over things (no matter how important or trivial), demanding control and perfection is your mind's reaction to fear. Once you buy into it, you're trapped.

A couple nights ago, I realized my belly and stomach protruded way more than I'd previously felt. This made me sad and worried: what did this mean? Was this the "visceral fat" experts warn against? Were my inflammation levels going to go up? More importantly, what had I done to cause this and what could I now do to reverse it?

Then I started watching women's waists on my walks, and noticed either envy, sadness, or contempt arose in me.

I wanted to stop, but I felt really trapped. I knew all these were signs of the Ego and the Ghosts frantically at work inside my mind but I didn't understand why.

Today, thinking about writing this piece, I heard, "not writing about that," coming from my Ghost of Misplaced Shame, I suspect.

And that's precisely how I knew I needed to write about it. I don't need to understand why this is happening, or why now, because wanting to understand is the Ego's prerogative.

I just need to expose the Ghosts and Ego in my mind.

The uncertainty of my life is the perfect breeding ground for my Ego and the Ghosts going into overdrive, demanding certainty, answers and control. "If you can't control your son's destiny," they say, "you at least should control your tummy."

I hope writing this helps me let go of my waistline obsession, so that I can keep walking towards my freedom.

What obsessions will you drop so you can continue on your path to freedom?

Love,

Carolina