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In the 1960s, various experiments of Martin Seligman showed how dogs conditioned to associate a sound with an unavoidable electric shock stopped trying to escape, even when presented with an easy way out—a very low fence that they could easily jump over. Similarly, many people remain trapped in certain situations, even when freedom is within reach, because they have been conditioned by fear, pressure, and a sense of helplessness.
Why does this happen? External pressures, like society’s expectations that feed on personal fears, can paralyze a person, stripping away their ability to envision alternatives. Even when there are no physical barriers, psychological ones can seem insurmountable.
Fear and suppression are indeed powerful tools. When used negatively, they can trap individuals in a cycle of passivity and despair. However, fear can also serve as a catalyst for growth. When a person hits rock bottom, the blows of life can spark an internal transformation. In such moments, they might begin to fantasize and imagine a way out—a step toward breaking free from their constraints.
Such challenges are designed within the laws of nature to guide us to endeavor beyond our limitations. The fear of suffering, when paired with the desire for something better, becomes a tool for development. Through these struggles, we can learn how to rise above our egoism—the self-centered nature that makes us want to enjoy at the expense of others—and discover a new way of living.
Freedom, however, is not about escaping to a new place or changing our external conditions. It is about freeing ourselves from the ego’s rule. Human egoism makes the low psychological “fence” of life appear like an impenetrable wall. Rising above the ego requires mutual support, understanding, and the social influence of connection-enriching values. We need to recognize that a different way of life is possible—one rooted in positive connection to one another.
Freewill begins when we decide that we have no other choice but to rise above our current state. This involves rejecting transient comforts and distractions that aim at soothing the ego and instead strive for a higher existence in alignment with nature’s laws of altruism, interconnection, and interdependence.
What, then, does it mean to be free? Being free means being unconstrained from our egoism’s shackles. We can then live harmoniously, peacefully, and happily with others, in an environment where we feel life as good. It is thus important to understand that freedom is purely an internal concept.
The psychological fence that holds us back is indeed actually very low—it requires just a small leap to overcome. But it also requires the realization that we are not really trapped. Freedom is within reach for those who choose to rise above their ego and seek a positive connection with others, one where we develop relations of care, love, support, encouragement, and giving throughout society. We can then we truly “jump the fence” and live a harmonious, peaceful, happy, and higher purpose-driven life.
Based on KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on May 13, 2024. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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