If we take the externalized allegory from Plato and turn its lens of awareness within, toward our internal processes and motivations, we can see the deceptive nature of our egoic desires, the shadowy reality of selfishness.
Even though this all that shadow and deception sounds nefarious, the “freedom” model doesn’t only apply to the obviously detrimental. No, not at all. Sometimes we’re trapped in a Virtue-shaped prison, unaware that we’re lying to ourselves… unaware that we’re weaponizing Virtues because we’re trapped in ego’s desire to be right… unaware that we’re ignoring moderation, and going overboard, causing self harm, because playing the martyr quietly strokes our ego like the cat of a super-villain.
The more aware we are of the subtle, insidious ways that we get in our own way, the more free we can actually be…
… and after all, who would not want to be free if they saw “The Cave” for what it was?
(See y’all tomorrow)