Freedom to Think and Feel

Living in a question is living within possibility, as if, “This might be possible for me.” It implies the freedom to think and feel.

This is like trying to start a fire. We create heat, then puff a little oxygen in there, and finally we see signs of smoke emanating from what has, now, become a fire.

Living in a question is a way of life that’s decisively open-minded, not to the compromise of morality, per se, but open and present. It’s the commitment to live within possibility; it takes everything within conscious grasp holding it above the flame of raw feeling and straight thought. Everything within our thought-world, and our perception for feeling, is ours; all ours to be owned.

What Is ‘Living In A Question?’

We never ‘make it’ as far as thinking and feeling is concerned.

Indeed, the closer we think we are to achieving mastery over thought and emotion the further we tend to be getting. Being free to think and feel is trickier than it seems. Making it possible for us requires us to risk enough to live our lives within a question. That is, to be sufficiently anchored, yet open to anything our thoughts and feelings could be exposed to.

When we think about it, freedom to think and feel as we would do, as a function of being ourselves, is freedom—perhaps the most basic kind. In this position we give ourselves permission to feel as God would have us feel; in accord with the truth.

Exposing our thoughts and feelings to the truth can be dangerous territory. Courage in dealing with what comes is obligatory. Living within a question, open within possibility, is that way.

Being Ourselves

Most people think it’s not rocket science to be themselves, but the irony is most of us struggle to achieve it for any lasting period. Our experiences have moulded our belief systems, and those belief systems continue to thwart the many situations we’re exposed to today.

Only as we live in a question, and as completely open within possibility as we can allow ourselves, can we enjoy life, being our essential, unadulterated selves.

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Everyone has fundamental dreams of enjoying their lives. Getting past the many barriers to satisfaction is a key challenge. When we can live life within possibility, open-minded to our experience, we come closer to that fundamental dream.

Living in a question is the freedom to live curiously, open to discovery. Being captivated by none other than wonder and awe, we’re free to live life. This ‘learning life’—the freedom to think and feel—is the freest of all freedoms.

© 2013 S. J. Wickham.