Video by devin.the.one

It took me about six years to realize that I was a prisoner of my own mind, and I'm explaining to you in 60 seconds so it don't take you that long. Let's do it. Number one, I thought my problems were external. The job, the relationship, the money. Nah, bro. The real prison was built right here in between my ears.

My thoughts were the bars and my fears were the freaking guards. Number two, I learned that my mind wasn't a neutral observer. It was a biased narrator, constantly replaying old hurts and convincing me that I wasn't good enough. It was a broken record on repeat and I was the only one listening. Number three, the escape started when I started to question the narrative.

Is this thought really true or is it just a story? I've been telling myself for years. Most of it was just old programming running on autopilot. Number four, I realized that wasn't my thoughts. I was the awareness of my thoughts. That distinction was the key. It was like watching a movie instead of being trapped inside it.

You can observe the drama without becoming the drama. Number five, I learned that freedom isn't about stopping the negative thoughts. It's about not letting them control your actions. You can have a thought about quitting, but you don't have to quit. You can have a thought about fear, but you don't have to be paralyzed.

Action actually breaks the spell. Number six, this journey taught me that my mind could either be a garden or a landfill. What you plant, what you order, that's what actually grows. So I stopped feeding the weeds of doubt and fear, and I started cultivating thoughts of possibility, strength, and purpose. And at the end of the day, you're not trapped by your circumstances.