Imagine for a moment, a medium sized moving box, (maybe one that you could put a couple loads of old clothes in). Dingy, old and worn, smelling musty from being stored for a long period of time. Maybe even a little water damage can be seen in the ripples of the beat up box. Dust has begun to collect from the years of being untouched. An ordinary storage box by outward appearances.
Ok. Do you have that mental picture in mind?
Now let’s take this imaginary box to a new level. Though ordinary, there is something different about it. This box can not be seen by the naked eye. Beat down, worn out, and barely noticed anymore. But….YOU CAN see it clearly now. And It is time to open this box and discover what is inside. For some reason, you are a little afraid of what you might find, but you decide to open it anyway.
To your astonishment, as you open the box, familiar things begin to suddenly appear in your minds eye. There are loads and loads of memories inside. Good ones, bad ones, happy and sad, success and failure, adventure, and despair. But wait. Some of these memories you recognize, and some you have never felt or seen before. How can that be? It is YOUR box, right?
Then you realize deep in your soul that these are ALL of your memories! A Lifetime’s worth! All of your emotions, your hopes and dreams, your adventures, your experiences! Even those you haven’t had or seen before. All of them trapped deep inside this box never to be found. And then it hits you!
It comes to you with great force, like a huge punch in the gut. You feel sick to your stomach as you realize that this box was created FOR YOU! Not only that, it was built BY YOU!
You suddenly realize that there is one emotion that is not trapped or missing. It is the very same one that kept you from opening it to start with. The very one that you are feeling right now. It’s Fear! Fear of what might have been inside. Fear of what might have happened if you opened it. Fear of the unknown. Plain and simple, the emotion is Fear. And you realize that you have been filled with fear for a very long time.
Ok, snap out of it. Back to real life? How do you feel?
No worries. The great thing about imagination is that it is just that, imagination! And that means that you can change the way this story ends!
And you know what? It is time! It is past time for you to take control of your fear. Kick it to curb. Release all of those past experiences and failures that have made you afraid to experience your life. Afraid to try new things, to take risks, to become more than you are and learn something new.
Because no one wants to look back at their life as they take their last and final breath and see that there was so much more that could have been. If only they would have opened the box!
Break free! Your life is waiting for you!
XO, Wendy
What prompted this post: I realized that since I was diagnosed with Bipolar 5 years ago, I have been so afraid of what might happen. It took several years to get meds right and get my physical, mental, and spiritual balance back.
But since then I have been somewhat paralyzed by the worry that it will happen again (meaning I would end up in the psychiatric ward again). So what if it does? It wouldn’t be the end of the world. I mean, I do NOT want that to happen for sure! However I have survived. I’ve been surviving it most of my life (with the help of my Savior and redeemer carrying me every step of the way).
But the difference now, is that I am so much stronger. Because I know. I know what I am dealing with. I know what triggers me. I know what precautions I need to take. There is absolutely no reason to remain stuck in this place. It is way past time to see what is on the other side of fear!
And if you have similar feelings of being stuck and unable to progress or move forward. Maybe it is time to take a good look at what is holding YOU back. I’d be willing to place a bet that it is the box of fear that you have been hiding in.
I know it’s not easy to break free from. Believe me I have been trying for nearly 40 years. Do not let this be your story. There is ALWAYS hope!
P.S. If you have not yet heard of it, check out the book Limitless by Jim Kwik. I haven’t finished it yet but it has made me realize that my brain is not broken. Just untrained, underused and misunderstood. A work in progress, but truly limitless!
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Pointing Toward Hope 