Slavery of the Mind
IMAGE SOURCE: BLACK HISTORY STUDIES. TWITTER.
We always think of our life journey as a discovery path of the person we need to become, the future self. Rarely we think of our journey as a morphic discovery of the old self. A discovery of unbecoming and rethinking everything that isn’t really us so we can be who we are meant to be.
Whatever is on the top of our hierarchy of assumptions functions as ‘God’ to us — be it religion, culture, values, or preferences. These pillars of our worldview are not acquired but ingrained from childhood, shaping what we perceive as truth. However, are these beliefs truly our own, or simply inherited? How do we liberate ourselves from this pre-programmed mindset?
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Indulging in a transformative learning process is what I like to call ‘Unlearn to Learn.’ Picture this: you’re letting go of the old to make space for the new. That’s unlearning in action! It’s all about shaking off those familiar routines and habits to welcome fresh perspectives. Rarely do we realize that learning involves eliminating and saying no. Eliminating beliefs that cannot coexist with new knowledge. Saying no to habits that hold us back, shedding preconceived notions that limit us, and distancing ourselves from people and things that don’t resonate with our true selves. The clearer our vision of who we want to be, the simpler it becomes to declutter our lives and say no to what doesn’t enrich our journey.
In today’s fast-paced world, staying adaptable is key. Unlearning helps us break free from what we thought we knew and opens the door to exciting new lessons and experiences. It’s like hitting the reset button on our minds, paving the way for growth and innovation.
This is what Bruce Lee describes as being formless and shapeless like water and adds that the starting point for learning is emptiness:
Emptiness is the starting point. To taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup. Drop all your preconceived and fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is useful? Because it is empty.
The journey of learning begins with a blank slate, an empty canvas ready to be filled with new knowledge and experiences. So, let’s dive into the waters of endless possibilities and discover the beauty of starting from scratch!