MENTAL SLAVERY; UNDERSTANDING AND BREAKING FREE FROM THE CHAINS.

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”

Yes! You guessed right. That’s a line from Bob Marley’s famous Redemption Song which charges everyone to think independently and not let society, the system, anyone, and even yourself limit your thinking or let emotions control you. The tagline reminds us that, freeing one’s self comes from within. No one can help you do it.

Whenever I think about mental slavery, one thing comes to mind - the heated argument I once had as a child with a Muslim friend about which religion is right or better. We could not find any common ground because we were mentally enslaved hence we believe in our various religions as the only sure path to the Creator. The reason we were unable to think beyond our schools of thought was obviously that we were raised in families where everyone believed in our favoured religion and thought it the best.

Growing older, I learned that religion does not matter but how you treat people does. Well, the story above shows how much we can all be mentally enslaved by society, the system, and the people around us.

Mental slavery is not necessarily about religion. It could be about other ideologies and systems. A great example is the political ideologies. People get trapped in a way of thinking based on their political beliefs. They tend to let those principles control their actions and emotions. This is another way we are enslaved mentally and it is up to us to free ourselves from it.

 

I define mental slavery as the state of being stuck in the limitations of your mind by constantly putting yourself down and letting your thoughts and emotions control you.

Mental slavery also plays in a situation where a person struggles with social anxiety. They may feel trapped by their fear of interacting with others, thus opting to avoid social situations altogether, even though they know that this is not healthy or productive. They may also have negative thoughts about themselves, such as feeling like they're not good enough or that they're not worthy of a social life or friendship.

Also, mental slavery can be identified in a situation where a person is unable to leave an abusive relationship even when they are physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abused by their partner. This is because they have become so used to their partner's abuse and manipulation that they believe they deserve the abuse, or that they can't survive without their partner. They may also become afraid of the consequences of leaving, such as having to begin afresh and/or not having anyone accept them.

 

Jane grew up with her stepmother who saw nothing good in her. She was always abused verbally and physically and this resulted in Jane struggling with low self-esteem and a history of negative self-talk. She often feels like she's not good enough or that she's not worthy of love or success. This affected all areas of her life, from her relationships to her career.

She constantly had feelings of guilt and shame that made her blame herself for things that were out of her control because her low self-esteem and negative thoughts trapped her in a circle of mental slavery and did not know how to overcome these limiting beliefs.

Mental slavery can be caused by a variety of factors, such as abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), neglect, bullying, societal expectations and pressure, poverty, lack of education, toxic relationships or work environments, etc.

Effects of mental slavery. Includes Anxiety and depression, Low self-esteem, Difficulty forming healthy relationships, Difficulty making decisions or taking action, Isolation and loneliness, Fear and helplessness, Lack of self-awareness, etc.

These are common experiences for people who struggle with mental slavery. But there is hope.

Through empowering self-discovery and awareness, Jane was able to emancipate herself from mental slavery. She developed personal empowerment strategies and transformative mindset shifts that gave her an intentional and fulfilling life.

You too can break free from mental chains and develop growth mindsets through these transformative strategies

➢ SELF-AWARENESS – The first step in breaking free from mental slavery is to cultivate self-awareness. If you find yourself immersed in negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that may be holding you back, challenge them by finding a more positive alternative. Instead of accepting those limiting beliefs as your reality, examine them critically and identify any biases or blind spots that might be clouding your judgment. By understanding yourself more deeply, you can begin to challenge and overcome the mental chains that bind you.

 

➢ CHALLENGE LIMITING BELIEFS: As I earlier outlined in the story of the religious argument with my Muslim friend, many of us carry around limiting beliefs that were instilled in us from a young age or reinforced by societal norms. These beliefs can act as chains and keep us stuck in a cycle of perfection, self-doubt, or fear. To break free, it's essential to challenge these beliefs. Replace negative self-talk with affirmations and positive reminders of your worth and potential. It's also important to build a strong support system of friends, family, and professionals who can help you work through any negative beliefs or patterns.

 

➢ PRACTICE SELF-COMPASSION. When we're stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts, it's easy to start beating ourselves up and feeling even worse. Practicing self-compassion means treating yourself with kindness and understanding. Say to yourself the things that you would say to a friend who was struggling. Acknowledge your mistakes without judgment, and recognize that you are deserving of love and acceptance just as you are. You might say things like, "It's okay to make mistakes" or "Everything is going to be fine". By showing yourself compassion and forgiveness, you can release yourself from the chains of mental slavery.

 

➢ GROWTH MINDSET - Adopting a growth mindset is another key to breaking free from mental slavery. Instead of viewing challenges as threats or setbacks, see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Hone your personal and professional skills. Celebrate your progress and view failures as valuable lessons rather than reflections of your worth. By cultivating a growth mindset, you can break free from the chains of self-doubt and embrace your full potential.

 

➢ SET BOUNDARIES - Mental slavery often happens when we allow other people to control or manipulate us. Boundaries are a way of saying "no" to things that don't serve us and protecting our energy and well-being. They can be physical, like not letting someone into your home, or emotional, like not allowing someone to disrespect you. Creating boundaries is an important tool for leading your life.

Overall, breaking the chains of mental slavery is a transformative journey that takes time and effort. But by cultivating self-awareness, self-compassion, resilience, and challenging limiting beliefs, it is possible to break free, unlock your full potential, and create a life of purpose, passion, and fulfillment. This is possible. Just remember to be patient and kind to yourself along the way. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither will your mental freedom. You need commitment to start, but most importantly, you need consistency to finish.

It’s never too late to break free from mental slavery!

 

……..Sweet Lilian