Though slavery has been legally abolished, it would be met with resistance if someone said that we still live as slaves today-slaves outside the bounds of any law. But as we look at the following points, that resistance may start to weaken.
There are people who live constantly busy lives always on the run. They forget to live for themselves. Or they claim they have no time-for meeting a friend, going on a family outing or simply finding personal joy. “I don’t have time” is the explanation they give. People who are always rushing like this are slaves-slaves to something or someone else. Some people are filled only with negative thoughts. These thoughts push them into deep mental stress. They can no longer dream about the future. The past accuses them. The present burdens them. They live carrying the weight of thoughts they can’t release.
They cannot make their own decisions or implement their own ideas. Even for the smallest matters they seek others’ opinions. They depend on others to decide the future of their lives.
They often believe that no one loves them or helps them-these are their constant companions. They have no self-respect in their abilities. They don’t feel pride in their achievements or joy in their successes. Similarly, those who obey without question and work at the cost of their self-respect are also slaves.
In some institutions various rules and regulations are imposed. Even when people know those rules are harmful they don’t question or oppose them. They believe that resisting is the same as being disobedient. Even when asked to do something they dislike, they carry it out, despite their internal resistance. These people have mortgaged their thinking and their capacity to respond.
All of these people are slaves-slaves to circumstances, slaves to other individuals, slaves to negative thoughts.
How much of a slave are you?
