"You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?"
Rumi
When I meet someone, I like to envision them living their highest potential, even if their current situation is a bit different. I was speaking to someone the other day who’s belief system is, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and if the tree is rotten, the apple is rotten. With them, there is no room for growth, only a linear progression of events. We each have our own truth, and that is fine. However, I would like to present the argument as to why it is so limiting to believe someone cannot aspire to more just because their parents have not.
The “apple” theory:
For me, this theory is linear and limited. It’s a simple progression that does not allow room for a person to choose differently. Choose differently? Do I mean, that we actually have a say in the matter? Yes, that's exactly what I am saying! We have the power of conscious choice.
According to this theory, we are born from two parents who raised us with belief systems that they were raised with and they unloaded all that onto us. They made choices, possibly to use drugs and alcohol or possibly to work toward success and this also influenced us. We believe what our eyes have shown us and to solidify that belief, studies have also shown that children repeat the patterns of their parents and typically follow the same road. So, this is the story we are all told and as long as we believe what others tell us and live according to those beliefs, we cannot evolve beyond our current circumstance. If you're happy stopping there, that’s fine and is also a choice.
The “highest potential” theory:
The problem is that we need to explain how some people don’t follow in the footsteps of their parents and despite growing up poor, or with parents that are alcoholics and drug addicts, they aspire to more and are successful. Why?
Because they did not believe the illusion their eyes showed them. Because, they did not believe the studies done prevented them from being more. Because, they questioned the belief systems they were raised with. Because, they dreamed of the life they wanted and they expected it to come into existence. Because, they chose differently. Consciously or subconsciously, they listened to the subtle voice inside of them and they remembered that they had free will to choose the life they wanted. And in making that choice they empowered themselves to live a better life.
I say our open eyes create the illusion and when we close our eyes and dream or meditate, we see our true potential. When we ask the question “Who am I?”, we will remember where we came from. We were created from a piece of God and that piece is our soul. So, we are all gods and goddesses who are able to create our own reality.
We came from what some call, Source / God / Universe / The All. I will use the word God, but as Shakespeare said, “ a rose by any other name, would still smell as sweet.” And to me, it doesn’t matter what term you use, because we are all referring to the same thing.
We were born with free will. Free will allows us to make choices...good and bad. When you are conscious you have that ability to choose, you most likely will make the right choice, and if not, you will quickly learn to make better choices because the other choice did not serve to move you forward on the path you have chosen to walk. When we blindly believe what others tell us, we are destined to fail and we are unable to learn valuable lessons by making our own mistakes. We were born sentient beings with the ability to think and choose, not blindly follow.
However, if you still are thinking “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” let’s go back to the beginning argument, if the apple truly does not fall far from the tree, aren’t we speaking of the tree of life? As above, so below. If that is the case, then I would have to firmly agree that statement is true, because as I said earlier, we are created from a piece of God. And then I would have to say, we have no excuses, only choices. We are not victims of anything unless we choose to hold ourselves captive of the events that occurred in our lives. We can also choose to use those events to move us forward through forgiveness of ourselves and others. Set yourself free!
I Love you,
Sharon
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