This post is going to be a much deeper one, so brace yourselves!
Many years ago, I was in Prague, and while strolling through the city, I stumbled upon something called the Museum of Torture. I had no idea such places existed. It was peculiar and intriguing, so naturally, I felt compelled to visit.
Inside, I saw artifacts specifically designed to inflict pain on humans. Did the people subjected to this torture deserve it? Perhaps. I can’t say for sure—I’d have to travel back in time to fully understand. But that’s not the point. The real question is: does anyone ever truly deserve to be tortured for their actions? And more importantly, do we torture ourselves for the mistakes we’ve made in the past? You’d be surprised at how many people willingly sit in that metaphorical chair of self-punishment. After all, self-torture often becomes a twisted form of self-defense.
Defense from our own thoughts—”How could I have done this?”; “I should have known better.”; “What was I thinking?”
We’ve all been there, myself included. Unresolved emotions compound over time and we become irrational, even self-destructive. Self-torture ends up pulling us out of alignment with our true needs.
But does it actually help? Trust me, it doesn’t. It doesn’t change the past, and it certainly doesn’t make us feel any better. Yet we persist, walking this painful path, clinging to the hope that one day we’ll finally forgive ourselves. But how long will that take? A year? A decade? Some people don’t realize the weight of their self-inflicted suffering until it’s too late, until they’re on their deathbed. Wouldn’t it be better to extend ourselves a little empathy, to acknowledge our own humanity?
You can’t control your journey, but the best thing you can do—for yourself and for those around you—is to stop torturing yourself over past mistakes. Choose to live with integrity, one moment at a time. In doing so, you liberate yourself. And once you’re free, everything good follows.
So, the next time you’re tempted to sit in that metaphorical chair of self-torture, maybe choose something different. Practice self-compassion. Accept your humanity. And let that be enough.
Hey, if you ever feel like you truly deserve to be punished for your past mistakes, let someone else do the honours—just kidding. LOL! Seriously, enough things are torturing us on a daily basis anyways. So, don’t torture yourself. Never torture yourself.
fortuitouspurpose 