Your Vulnerabilities Are Preventing You From Feeling Joyful - What Can You Do

You feel confined within high walls, yearning for an escape to breathe fresh air, yet finding no way out.

Life can be hard and unpredictable, filled with challenges, vulnerabilities, failures, and sad moments. It's a winding path filled with numerous hardships that test our mettle, unexpected situations that make us question our worth, failures that seem insurmountable, and moments of sadness that can feel overwhelming. These difficulties and challenges are a tangible part of our existence. Those who have experienced them firsthand can attest to how hard life can be.

The cold is sometimes quite noticeable with the chill in the air, the frost that paints a crisp picture on our windows, the fog that obscures our vision, and the snow that falls from the sky, blanketing the earth in its pure whiteness. It brings with it its unrelenting companion, the wind, and its deep, bone-chilling howl that reverberates not only through our ears but also echoes in the chambers of our heart.

By 'cold', I'm not merely referring to the weather conditions but also to your vulnerabilities, weaknesses, fears, and inner darkness. The more you attempt to escape these deepest sensitivities, the more they'll pursue and find you in the corners of your mind and heart where you least expect them. It's true, we all feel weak and vulnerable at times. I've been there too! So I know the experience, especially the dark side of it.

But what can you do in the face of such adversity?

One of the biggest reasons behind our vulnerabilities and sadness is our mind's fixation on unfavourable situations. When we find ourselves in a tough spot, our mind becomes so engrossed in the little details of it that it becomes difficult for us to focus on anything else. It's as if your mind has been ensnared in a trap and refuses to obey your logical commands to think of something else. It continues to ponder over the predicament you find yourself in. You want to be happy, then realize that happiness is far away from you. You feel helpless.

Metaphorically, you feel trapped in a space enclosed by high walls, with no way to escape and breathe fresh air, even though you long for it.

For instance, if you find yourself in a debt trap, your thoughts are constantly preoccupied with the debt that looms over your head. If you've recently gone through a break-up, all your mind does is replay memories of your ex-partner, whether they're good or bad. If you've failed an exam, the mental torment does not cease. If your loved ones are ill, you find yourself unable to escape the cycle of worry and anxiety. If you are going to court or dealing with a big mess in life, you definitely cannot stop thinking of it. Even in a beautiful location, your mind is situated somewhere else, worried, sad, powerless, and a lot more. You feel that your mind is on a loop, constantly replaying the same thoughts over and over for several days, unable to break free from the cycle. This relentless wave of thoughts can also be termed as emotional traps. When something unfavourable happens, you react emotionally and those emotions take up residence in your heart for a long time, ensnaring you in their trap. These traps are so strong that it becomes difficult to escape, making you feel vulnerable, weak, and hurt.

The question then arises: how can you break free from these emotional traps? How can you heal your vulnerabilities? This is a question that many people everywhere grapple with. I must admit that there was a point in my life when I too was struggling with my own vulnerabilities and was in search of an answer to this daunting question.

So, now let’s come to the main point. You're probably familiar with the age-old saying that life is a journey, not a destination. I want to draw your attention to this great concept and encourage you to consider its meaning thoughtfully and deeply.

Think again that life is a journey. Realize that your present moment is just a small part of this entire trip.

Indeed, life is a journey, a voyage that we undertake from the moment we're born until we take our last breath. This journey of life is interspersed with the presence of various people who enter and exit our lives at different points. These individuals are nothing more than fellow travellers who are on their own unique journeys. Some of those who bring pain, hurt or suffering are also temporary tourists of their life.

It's crucial to grasp the fact that these fellow backpackers, even if they happen to be close family members or dear friends, are temporary in the grand scheme of our lives. Their presence is transient, and it's important not to form strong, unbreakable attachments with them. Instead, you should appreciate them for what they are: fellow travellers sharing this life, this journey with you in the same timeframe.

But remember, every single person, including those who have caused you pain or have hurt you in the past, is here for a short time. They, too, like you, are navigating and figuring things out, even if they probably never consciously thought about their own life journey.

Adopting this perspective can offer you relief and healing from the emotional traps or fixations you feel, or bothersome thoughts about someone that you often find yourself ensnared in. It allows you to avoid the depths of vulnerability or your own weakness that come with the actions of others. This viewpoint can serve as a lifeline, a beacon of light guiding you through the often tumultuous journey that is life.

Another way to break free from these difficulties and persistent thoughts could be reading good books, surrounding yourself with uplifting people, being in nature, and watching joyful content. Last week, it was -45ºC/-49ºF in the wilderness around my cabin in the Yukon, with the wind chill making it feel like -55. Nature was stunningly beautiful. I went outside and danced Bhangra. However, it was so cold that my camera froze. For two days, I couldn't turn it on. The memory card was also frozen. Fortunately, after two days of warmth inside my cabin, the memory card came back to life. After two days, I was able to retrieve the video I made in the frigid cold. I am now sharing it with you, hoping it brings you some joy. Here it is:

Of course, dealing with non-stop difficult thoughts and the emotional trap of vulnerability that takes your joy away also requires courage, effort, work, meditation, proper breathing practices, and other important steps. However, it's crucial to understand that when we approach life as a journey, it shifts our focus to the bigger picture, rather than getting caught up in minor details. This perspective can provide relief from troubling thoughts we wish to let go of.

(If you can, write your thoughts in the comments below)