How the illusion of possession is ruining your life and what you can do to fix it

“If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.” - Osho

There is a powerful illusion that nearly all of us believe to be reality. It is something very close to home. It is something that literally billions and billions of marketing dollars are spent on each year to get us to continue believing in it. What is this illusion? 

It is the illusion of possession. What I am about to say may upset some people and irritate others. If this is you, know that I do not apologize for what I am about to say. As a warrior, I speak my mind and I share the truth. I do this out of respect for you. I care enough about you to give it to you straight. I also care enough about my own internal integrity to give it to you straight. Disclaimer aside, here it is: You do not own or possess a thing. Not one thing. Not even yourself. Did you create yourself? Did you choose your parents? Your country of origin? Your skin color? No. If you are not the creator of yourself, you are not the owner of yourself. 

Did you create your shoes, car, computer or purse? No. Did you create the money you earn? No. Therefore, they are not yours. You do not own them. You do not possess them. It is all an illusion. You are told everyday by countless marketing ads to become the "possessor" of a new trinket, a new widget, or even a new person. Did you create other people? Did you create your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, parents, siblings? No. Therefore, you do not possess them and you shouldn't want to. 

Coming to the realization you do not own or possess anything is immensely liberating. It is something I must remind myself everyday because it is so easy to fall back in love with the illusion. But always remember it is just that, an illusion. 

You are the possessor of your own thoughts, actions, choices and decisions. That is about it. Even those you only have due to already being given a soul and a body. Warriors have long accepted this notion that they do not own anything as a way to avoid being swallowed up by the world; as a way to continually focus on their purpose. It allows you to maintain your integrity, honor, and standards. 

This viewpoint is highly practical in nature and is not merely philosophical. Think about it. If a billionaire let you borrow his Lamborghini while he was on vacation, how would you treat it? Would you throw empty McDonald's bags in the passenger seat? Would you toss your muddy shoes across the seat onto the floor? No. You would treat it with the utmost care and respect. Why? Because it doesn't belong to you. You are free from the illusion of possession in that scenario, so you treat it with great care and respect.

Warrior's apply this to everything. If I do not own my body, but instead believe the Creator owns it, how much better will I treat it? If I view other human beings as someone owned by the Creator, then how much better will I treat the Creator's "property"? If I view even my own mind as not my own, how much more carefully will I guard the entrance to my mind to prevent it from being contaminated with foul things? If I have been entrusted to take care of myself at the request of the true owner (the Creator) how much better will I treat myself?

Similarly, how will I be able to handle rejection if I realize that I do not own anything? How much better will I handle loss of property, wealth, health and even the deaths of loved ones? If all those things were never mine to begin with, I will not be devastated. I will better understand their true nature and I will have savored the time I did have with them all the more. 

Realize warriors that everything around you is owned by God, the Creator, and you are merely being loaned or entrusted with certain things of His. This will humble you, decrease your vanity and crush your pride. Because you will realize it isn't you. God owns it all, you are merely a steward, a guardian, a protector of the gifts and things of God. 

You own nothing warriors. You possess nothing that was not given you by God, the Creator. If you choose to accept this, you will be able to handle loss in ways you never imagined. You will take better care of yourself, you will treat others better, you will love more, stress less, and you will finally see reality as it is. 

As a side note: even if you don't believe God exists, you should act as if you don't own anything regardless. It will still enable you to treat yourself and others better if you believe you don't own or possess things. 

Break free from the illusion. Cast off your need and desire for ownership and possession. How can you do this? Accept reality. Accept that you are not in control and never were. Accept the truth that warriors all throughout history have accepted: Possession is an illusion. 

Live in the battleground,

~Alex