A way for us to heal those self-imprisoning thoughts of feeling stuck and depressed is to let go of the inner prison house and become one with our inner Self. What is it that keeps us from our true calling and gives us the idea of feeling trapped in life?

I’ve found that we resurrect to experiencing self-healing once we’re clear about what we truly want from life, and begin learning how to reflect that into this world. 

I’ve found that self-reflection is of the habits of successful people everywhere and who ever once walked this earth.

Going to prison is not an easy ordeal to live with, and I surely never wish it on anyone.

Well, prison is exactly where I spent far too much time over a foolish securities violation, and it was during a period of panic and abuse in the investment industry. 

I noticed a parallel with feeling stuck and depressed and the self-imprisonment we often do to ourselves.

You know, when you feel trapped in life.

It’s why I so often suggest that you learn how to do mindfulness meditation to help you achieve inner peace, and more on that here… 

I’m sure you’ll agree it seems difficult and even more self-imprisoning when you don’t know what to do if you feel depressed.

The Course in Miracles states, “No one wants madness, nor does anyone cling to this madness if he sees that this is what it is.”

What to do if you Feel Depressed?

The authorities seized all of my material possessions, or what was left of them, and I was left penniless.

All that was left of me was what seemed to be a vacant mind, so I grabbed a hold of all that was left of me.

I use the word “vacant” because the material world that had consumed me for my entire life had just vanished in an instant.

I had received terrible legal advice from a lawyer who was ill-equipped to be honest enough about my case, and was no match for the well-polished prosecutor and a judge, who both wanted to be known as tough.

This sent me deeper into feeling stuck and depressed.

He set an example, all right, by dishing me out a ten-year prison sentence. After I was given my sentence, a lump rose in my throat as a guard snapped handcuffs onto my wrists.

But I did sense a small spark of light within me, and I focused on that.

By the way, here’s a related brief post I’d written a while ago to help when being in a rut, or feeling trapped in life, healed by meeting your Spirit Guide: 

To Overcome Life Challenges

My lawyer gave me a wink and a nod and then whispered into my ear that he “should” be able to get me an early release—but the money needed to be right.

He added in his best salesman voice that my daughters should sell my house on the lake quickly.

He said a realtor would not be necessary, as he had an associate who would handle everything.

He figured there might be some equity left before the seizure and garnishments were ordered.

His words did not come close to rescuing me from the nausea of feeling stuck and depressed that the fall of the gavel had produced in me.

Reality slammed down hard and I could only guess about the challenges ahead of me.

The Course in Miracles further teaches us that, “What protects madness is the belief that it is true.”

But my lawyer was right in that I would be eligible for an early release, and this was a tiny bit of something to hang on to.

(Let me quickly add that this related post may help you for realizing each time you keep problems of life for yourself to solve, or judge, that is a problem that has no resolution.) 

Only it got worse.

It was not until 8 long ugly years later when another judge stepped in to release me.

And worse again, from prison six months after I entered, I read the front-page news about my lawyer’s death due to a drug overdose.

It seems he was found face down in the winter’s snow of his backyard, loaded with cocaine.

Searching for a new lawyer from prison left me more of feeling stuck and depressed, and would not be an easy task unless I could get some outside help.

But I had time and plenty of it.

So I began to write from the volatile and often violent din of the cell block, and this is where my first three books of an ever-developing series had been born.

Upon my release from a state prison after 8 long and difficult, but highly spirited years, my first book of the series, The Master of Everything: A Story of Mankind and the World of Illusion We Call Life, was published by a mainstream publisher and on sale everywhere books are sold.

Of the people in my life, only a few had stuck with me, and those few continue to encourage me with their support to this day.

I’m still recovering, but the feeling is Heavenly!

I was able to see the spirit meaning in them.

Certainly their good spirit meaning and support did help heal that part of me feeling stuck and depressed.

The others had chosen not to, and for those, I don’t even try to understand or make sense of it.

In prison it is often said, “Once you are sent there, you will find out quickly who your true family and friends are.”

Many once-loved ones shy away when someone goes to prison. They all have their reasons, but it’s sad and it hurts.

I don’t mean this as an attack or accusation toward anyone; it is merely a fact of life for a group of individuals who are feeling stuck and depressed and become destitute by being imprisoned.

Self-Healing

Prisoners are always extremely thankful for a shoulder to lean on, or cry on, or to hug; for a good-spirited mind who may write a letter and ask, “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

For those who have remained behind me, and for their support, I am eternally grateful.

Try to see that by identifying with your inner vision and true free will, helps you to overcome life challenges by reducing the fears of taking action on your objectives and goals.

You can then free yourself from the prison cell you only think has you chained and bound. All too often we sadly become our own jailer.

(Please note, if you feel the urge for more on overcoming life challenges, I suggest this related article on how you can change your life by listening to your inner Teacher’s personal growth plan.) 

To overcoming life challenges,

James Nussbaumer

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See what Amazon.com has to say about my ever-developing series—reflections of A Course in Miracles, or see the display at Ozark Mountain Publishing Co.

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