I know right? As IF!
I mean, we’re talking about ME here! 😉
You remember the movie, “The Matrix?” There’s that scene where Morpheus and Neo “upload” themselves into the mind program where there is a martial arts dojo. Morpheus is going to teach Neo how to apply all the kung fu that Neo just learned in theory. Then they get busy with some super impressive, physics-defying kung fu practice. The point is for Neo to learn that all the rules of the physical world don’t actually apply in the matrix, the mind world. At one point, Neo stops in their practice to bend over and catch his breath. Morpheus leans close to Neo and asks quietly, “You think that’s air your breathing now?” Neo is quietly shocked into remembering that he is in a computer program – there are no actual physical limitations in the program but his mind is used to them so he keeps playing by those rules. He catching his breathe to let his physical body rest, but his body isn’t even part of the exercise. It’s all being played out in his mind.
It’s like that for all of us. We’re used to thinking about things in a certain way. Thinking they’re real. If Neo was doing kung fu fighting with his actual body, well then yes – he would need to catch his breath. And he would behave in a certain way and adhere to the laws of physics or else he would definitely get hurt. If he tried to run up a wall, float in the air to land a kick, jump over a ravine – his body wouldn’t be able to perform what his unlimited imagination suggested.
When I was a kid, it made sense to adhere to the physical rules of my household (and family and school and society) or else I got hurt. One of the rules was I needed to see myself as inferior, impaired, weak, and always trying to make up for my inherent lack of value. (That is so off from the truth about me or anyone that it makes me feel icky just to write that!) So many of us have similar versions of that misconception. “Who do you think you are?!” our elders might demand, implying that we are in truth nobody and definitely not entitled to love ourselves. Love yourself?! That’s clearly conceited!! And clearly conceited people are bad people, have no character and “they’ll get their come-uppance!” “Don’t get too full of yourself !” Blah blah blah. We can see that there are SOO many “rules” that we learned and still adhere to even though if we stop and think about it, those rules aren’t true.
I got into the habit of thinking I suck. For a long time in my childhood it was safer for me to believe that and behave accordingly. But lately I am really, really waking up to seeing how that way of thinking is just a habit. I keep sucking in the “air” like Neo when there is no air. I keep “sucking” even though there is no suck!
There. Is. No. Suck.
I just thought there was for a really long time.
Now I have the happy adventure of discovering what is left when I stop “sucking” false air.
And now, dear friends, please join me in a deep breath of fresh, life-giving, REAL AIR and all the freedom that comes with that!
Love,
CB
Okay I am happily embracing my nerdy self right now! I had to include these clips from the Matrix! If you want a totally immature humor giggle, click the first image/video! If you are an actual Matrix fan and or/geek and want to watch that actual cool scene again where Morpheus asks Neo if he thinks that’s air he’s breathing now, click the second picture/video!
