It seems that everyone at some point finds themselves tangled in a web of limitations and oppression. Some are of their own making, some are served by the hand of others and no matter what their provenance, there is only one sustainable way out.

To be free from your limitations you must learn to be first free in your limitations. You needn’t settle or compromise to do so, you just have to learn that struggling against your limitations, fighting that which binds you is no more productive than pulling harder and harder against the bamboo sleeve of a Chinese finger puzzle.

Jewel outlined the process in her lovely song, “Life Uncommon.” Please find both the lyrics and a YouTube link below for your enjoyment.

“Life Uncommon” by Jewel

Don’t worry mother, it’ll be alright
And don’t worry sister, say your prayers and sleep right
It’ll be fine lover of mine
It’ll be just fine
Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And you shall lead a life uncommon
I’ve heard your anguish
I’ve heard your hearts cry out
We are tired, we are weary, but we aren’t worn out
Set down your chains, until only faith remains
Set down your chains
And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lent your strength to that
Which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommon
There are plenty of people who pray for peace
But if praying were enough it would have come to be
Let your words enslave no one and the heavens will hush themselves
To hear out voices ring out clear
With sounds of freedom
Sounds of freedom
Come on you unbelievers, move out of the way
There is a new army coming and we are armed with faith
To live, we must give
To live
And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead…
Lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that which we with to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommon

And here is the video. You’ll love it! Jewel’s voice is lovely. I heard her perform in a tiny venue in Ocean Beach, San Diego years ago (before she became well known) without the performance enhancing electronics that now surround her and she delivered one of the most moving live performances I’ve heard.

Think about the world you center. What is impinging on your freedom? Do you find yourself rallying against it, trying to push it back so that you don’t feel the weight of it? Or have you learned to relax in its presence, to take the time to find the starting points available to you? The first approach leads to further enslavement and subjection. The second, to freedom.

Which will it be for you?