If you woke up one morning and a wall had appeared overnight blocking you from your work, loved ones, school, freedom and more, how would you feel?
Trapped, repressed, terrified? Complacent?
Most of us build invisible walls around ourselves. Around our emotions, self confidence, happiness, trust...you name it we humans can build a wall around it.
Avoidance seems to be an intrinsic part of human nature. It might be cleaning the toilet, going for a jog, confrontation, or the harder things like something emotional you need to deal with, or jumping out of your comfort zone. The longer you go without peaking out over that wall, the higher it gets. The longer you wait to try and push through the boundary, the thicker it gets.
I really found myself considering this while spending time in Berlin recently; considering the sheer determination people possessed to survive, and try and find something better for themselves and their families. Not just during the time of the Berlin Wall, but also during World War 2. Boundaries have essentially divided a city, and a nation, for decades, and yet now the city is a vibrant, thriving hub, because people saw these walls as a physical thing only, they did not let it crush their spirit.
What is it that you have built a wall around? Have you even realised you have done it? I know so many times I've had no idea I had created such a boundary, and in turn fear, around things.
So build a door. Chisel it if you have to. Build a rope ladder. Ask for help. No one escaped East Berlin alone without some help, even if it was just the motivating thought of what was waiting for them on the other side.
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