The Fence Fight

Metaphorical Narrative

A dirt path winds forward, clear and open. Halfway along sits a small wooden fence — knee-high, easy to step over.

But ego rushes in, shouting: “This is an attack on your freedom! They’re trying to block you!” The fence swells in your imagination, towering into a barricade.

Fueled by outrage, you waste your strength tearing at the wood, building workarounds, shouting defiance to no one in particular. By the time it collapses, you’re exhausted.

Then you notice: you could have simply stepped over. The fence was never a prison — only a prop for ego’s drama.

Core Insight

Setbacks are part of the road, not attacks on freedom. Ego inflates small obstacles into cosmic battles so you burn energy proving no one can stop you. True freedom is not proving — it’s moving.

Saturday Experiment

1. Catch the Label → When frustration rises, notice the thought: “This is blocking me!”
2. Shrink the Fence → Ask: Is this really an attack, or just a bump? Picture the obstacle knee-high.
3. Step Over → Instead of proving, take the simplest step forward and keep walking.

Sunday Reflection

In third person, describe someone wasting their fire, tearing apart a fence they thought was a fortress. Then describe them stepping calmly over the small wooden rail and continuing on their way.

What changes when setbacks are no longer treated as attacks?