Breaking Free From The Matrix

The Fish in the Storm

I witnessed something simple yet profound today just outside my window at the resort I’m staying in during my holiday in Siem Reap, Cambodia. For context, it’s September, and the rainy season is in full swing. The storms are wild and intense from afternoon until the next morning. It is beautiful though, the sounds, the smells, the feeling of nature at its most powerful, the sense of rejuvenation.

This early morning, I pulled back the curtains, as I do every morning, to see the beautiful fish pond with its lilies and fish swimming about. The rain was easing and the light droplets touching the surface of the long, river-like pond were mesmerising. That’s when I noticed something. A rather large fish seemingly stuck in a confined spot (see images below).

It appeared that the rain had overflowed the pot and pond, and the fish appeared trapped, struggling to escape back into the wider pond, but constantly being pulled back into the smaller pot, swimming in circles. I couldn’t help but its discomfort, yet admire its resilience.

The 9–5 Trap

Here’s where the analogy comes in. I recognised myself in that fish. Before I took the plunge and freed myself from being stuck in my own cycle, I was that fish, living inside the container of my own world. I was simply trying to survive, going through life day in and day out, repeating the same cycles - Wake up, go to work, come home, eat, sleep, pay bills, and repeat. I felt trapped. I wanted so desperately to break free, but I didn’t know what lay beyond and I feared stepping outside of the familiar. What if I couldn’t survive out there? Each time I got the courage to step outside the zone, I always seemed to get pulled back in.

It’s the same for many of us out there wanting to escape and follow a higher calling. Even though we feel that pull toward something greater, whether it’s following a passion, a new career or simply more time for ourselves, we often get pulled back into the safety of what we know.

Our Spirit Team

As I watched the fish trying to escape, I called my partner over. We both stood there, encouraging it, cheering each time it almost broke free and feeling disappointed when it slipped back into the pot. That’s when it occurred to me. This is what our spirit team, our angel guides, our higher self does for us. They cheer us on every time we take a step forward, even when we falter, never giving up on us. They encourage, give us space, send us signs, and let us learn in our own time. But they always keep supporting us.

Just as my partner and I tapped on the glass to encourage the fish to move, our guides send us nudges, gentle reminders, encouragement along the way. We all need that support. Whether from inner guidance or outer guidance, we have that support to step outside the boundaries we’ve set for ourselves.

Overcoming the Fears

Eventually, the fish found its way out into the wider pond. We had left it for about an hour or so later, checking in every now and then. I imagined it must have felt overwhelming, just as it does for us when we finally make that leap into the unknown – but it must have also felt exhilarating.

It’s important to note that the fish struggled many times. It would escape for a moment, then slip back into the safety and familiarity of the pot. Isn’t that exactly what happens to us in our matrix world? Whenever doubts bubble up, we feel it’s easier to just retreat into what feels familiar, even if it doesn’t serve us anymore. Ultimately, struggles are a part of our journey towards our freedom. That is the encouragement we can take from this.

Only now that I, myself, have broken free, do I realise that I had to endure the grind until I finally learnt the biggest lesson – I was, in fact, living in fear instead of love and trust.

Beyond the Pot and Into the Pond

The larger pond is a metaphor for the possibilities that await us once we break free from routine. It not only represents the freedom we are missing, but also the abundance and the opportunities lying just beyond the familiar. We may need to face fears and take risks to reach that space, but in the end, it’s worth it.

Embracing the Journey

There’s a lesson here for us all. Just like that fish, whenever fear pulls us back to our old ways, it’s a sign that we’re out of alignment with our higher purpose. Once we are able to overcome what holds us back and work on and tune into what fills us with joy and passion, our entire existence opens up, and the path to follow becomes clear. If we can become our own cheerleaders, while also trusting a higher guidance and inner wisdom, we’ll be able to face the unknown with courage and embrace our true calling.

In the End…

I broke free. You can too.