8 Keys to Escaping Mental Prisons
The 1968 television show, The Prisoner, had an indescribable impact on my perception of the world. It shaped my religious, political, and artistic sensibilities. It gave me a sense of how to live a life aligned with my values. It opened my eyes to a reality I could not previously articulate: that we are all, in a sense, prisoners.
Without getting into the plot, let’s just say The Prisoner is more psychological exploration than it is televised entertainment. The episodes don’t always resolve at the end. You never learn the main character’s name. The series finale is controversial, open-ended, and outright confusing. It’s not the kind of show you put on to distract from reality for an hour.
In contemplating The Prisoner for many years, I’ve come to believe in a concept called mental prisons. This concept is the subject (and title) of my next book. A mental prison is a perceived trap that limits our freedom, potential, and well-being. Though The Prisoner is about a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned in a mysterious village against his will, I’ve realized that the prisons I’ve experienced are of my own making.
Every mental prison has a key. So far, I’ve identified eight keys that have allowed me to escape my own prisons. They are as follows:
No one controls my thoughts, therefore no one controls the quality of my life (mindset)
I am emotional first, rational second. My “why” can be whatever I want it to be (motivation)
I don’t know what I am experiencing until after I have experienced it. I “connect the dots” in a way that makes sense to me and the world becomes what I make it out to be (interpretation)
There are no rules, so follow my own. Do what improves my well-being and detach from meaning so work becomes play (operation)
No one is an island. I am never alone and never working for myself (relationships)
Freedom is non habit forming. There is only “freedom from” (suffering)
Answers are a burden. Once I seek them, I’m off the path. (discipline)
I am completely and eternally unique. There has never been another me and there never will be, so make the most of it (opportunity)
I hope to use these blog posts to explore the potential universality of these keys. Through interviews and research, I want to discover more keys and test my own. The blog posts will eventually serve as the basis for my new book.
Let me know if this is a topic of interest to you. I’d love to know who else is into this idea and generate some interest leading up to the book. I have 26 pages of abbreviated notes in preparation for the book and there’s plenty of compelling and controversial content.
