THE PUPPET MASTER

When we allow things outside of ourselves to govern or dictate how we live life we have lost control. We should be the drivers of our emotions, the drivers of our ambitions, the drivers of our minds. When we aren’t we become lost in a chaotic cycle of endless fear, stress, and anxiety. Thus we become lost in a whirlpool of uncertainty and discontent and happiness becomes fleeting.  We often become entangled in a web of emotions, driven by desires, or blindly pursuing money without stopping to ask ourselves: Who's really in control? When we allow the outside world to pull the strings of our lives, we’re unknowingly surrendering our autonomy to these puppeteers. 

But what if I told you that you have the power to cut those chords and regain control over your destiny? Welcome to the theater of life, where you can become your true puppet master. This is where you regain control of your mind. Our minds, the intricate machinery that stores our thoughts, dreams, and aspirations, are often hijacked by a relentless puppet master. The mind is where the ego dwells, and if not governed by your highest level of consciousness then who is to govern the mind for the mind cannot govern itself. Thoughts, both constructive and destructive, dance upon the stage of our consciousness, pulling our strings, easily we lose control, allowing negativity and self-doubt to guide our actions. 

That's how you know the ego has taken hold.  In its grasp, the mind is easily controlled by internal turmoil and influenced by external forces. Actions become governed by negative emotion and awareness slips through the cracks of acquired wisdom. Emotional intelligence becomes a skill left unmastered and life as you know it becomes a rollercoaster ride untamed. Emotions can be your puppet master if you let them. But awareness can be the first step toward reclaiming those puppet strings.

When you're alone with your thoughts, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and be an observer of your mind. Ask yourself “Those thoughts, are they mine?”, or are they being manipulated by external influences?  What's truly causing you to plummet into the depths of sadness, bitterness, or rage? When we lose something we place more value on than we should such as people, money, cars, and all things materialism, its loss renders these negative emotions within us because there is a subconscious attachment to them. 

Attachment styles are things of the ego not things of the Universe, not a thing of God. For love in its purest form exists only in the absence of attachment.  Only in the absence of attachment can we give love unconditionally without those internal yet deliberate expectations. Hence what we cling to we will always lose. To become subconsciously attached to something or someone is to be subconsciously dwelling in idolatry, placing all those with whom we have attached ourselves before God, for they control how we make our decisions when our decisions should solely be based on God's word and his word alone. 

Thus we should never cling to things or people outside of ourselves. These are temporary moments and encounters in a fleeting world. For the only constant in this world is change and love born of divinity. To do otherwise would be to allow the ego to feed on all your uncertainties and fears, pushing you into a vortex of emotional disdain and distress. Beware for the more you feed it, the bigger it grows until it has shaped your identity entirely. 

If the ego attaches itself to social status and identifies it with self-importance, self-worth, and success, then ambition becomes your driver and you are not the driver of your ambition. It will cause you to perpetually neglect yourself in the process of trying to obtain that which you never will obtain all because you've placed ambition before the love you have for yourself. If the ego attaches itself to money and associates money with freedom, then money has now become the master of your mind and you are not the master of money. You'll continue to indulge in worthless “Get rich quick” schemes or endless self-help courses that you think will take you to the next level career-wise because in your mind you believe it's bringing you closer to your goals but in all actuality it's bringing you farther away from them as it keeps you continuously diverting away from your purpose.  A diversion from purpose is an act of self-betrayal. 

We mustn't let the ego give money, power, sex, materialism, ambition, etc. The power to dictate our choices and shape our values. The pursuit of all things external can be all-consuming, leading to a life devoid of authenticity and meaning. All of these things are skills or tools utilized for the betterment of relationships or worldly exploration, not the master of our existence. They don't provide freedom nor are they to be used to provide comfort. Peace, happiness, comfort, and freedom are cultivated within. 

When we allow external forces to become our puppet masters, we find ourselves trapped in a chaotic cycle of fear, stress, and unhappiness. The strings controlling us may be invisible, but their grip is undeniable. To break free, we must set out on a journey of self-awareness and self-empowerment. Start by acknowledging your fears, recognizing that they are often irrational and based on the influence of external factors. Begin a practice of mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and other holistic methods of healing to help you gain control over your thoughts and emotions and reclaim your life from the puppet master by making choices aligned with your true self, not societal expectations.

If it's controlling your decisions, driving you to work endless hours in pursuit of more, then it's time to reclaim your control over life by reevaluating your priority, which is you. Shift your focus from the relentless pursuit of external gains to creating a life that aligns with your values, passions, and purpose. This might involve sacrifices, but the reward is a life led by purpose, not profit. Recognize that your thoughts are not your own, and you can choose which ones to embrace. Take charge of your mental narrative, be the puppeteer, and create a story of empowerment and positivity. Make yourself the center of your focus because everything you desire will remain elusive to you as long as you continue to evade yourself. 

Remember that the path to self-awareness and control is not linear; it's a continuous process of growth and self-discovery. Embrace and acknowledge each tiny progress you make, while also extending kindness and patience toward yourself. The puppet master's grip weakens as you become the master of your world. Your mind, your emotions, and your life are yours to steer. Discover the power within you to navigate your life toward happiness, fulfillment, and authenticity. Take those reins, and become the master of your destiny, for you are the captain, and your life is your journey to sail.