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For most of us, the word captive is not one that we would think of when asked to describe ourselves. The word evokes images of slavery, of helplessness. We think of the Civil War of the U.S.A., POWs of various military coups, missing children. We do not think I too am a captive.

What describes a captive individual? This person may be imprisoned within a cell, bound with physical restraints, prevented from contacting other people. This person may be considered mere property of someone else, not quite human. A captive individual lacks free movement and action. A captive individual follows a prescribed course, and is not allowed to deviate from their path. Pain. Suffering. Degradation. Apathy. Loss of Hope. Inertia.

In many ways that we often overlook, dismiss, or are unaware of, we are captives in our daily lives. In others, we are willing participants in our limitations. And we often perceive ourselves as being captives in situations, when in actuality we are not. We are bound by our various roles, such as parent, child, sibling, boss, co-worker, employee. There are subtle and not-so-subtle rules assigned by society, religion, family traditions that dictate where the boundaries lie. These are things to think upon, to be actively aware of as we live our lives.

One of the Hallmarks of Current Society is the role of the Victim. The idea that other people are responsible for the paths our lives have taken is pervasive. In a culture that has a cure for every slight ache and pain, and legitimizes lack of self-responsibility, it is easy to look at one's life and say It's not my fault I am at this point. It was my parents, my teachers, my friends, the government that put me here. We need to realize our own roles we have played in the shaping of our lives, in order to overcome the victim mentality. We too have made choices and decisions along the way, which have affected our opportunities and situations. In coming to terms with this, and being aware of the way our own choices have shaped our past and present, we can then look to making changes.

It follows that if we have had a role in getting to where we are, then we can and do have a role in continuing along our path. We can make choices in the present that will affect both our present situation and future situations. In among the plethora of feel-good platitudes, and other handy labels, there are means with which to take responsibility for your own life, your own self, your own direction. No longer do you have to accept passively that other people make the choices. No longer do you have to be resigned to a life which is less than you desire.

In order to make choices wisely, one needs to remember to weigh the situation and assess the options. What consequences might come about if you were to make different choices? If one does not choose wisely, it can be a simple thing to slip into a depression and be a captive to one's own downward-spiralling self-esteem. When, if, this happens to you do not metaphorically beat your head upon a wall. Instead, remember that you are the one who holds your bonds, that you are the one in control of your life. If you're in a sticky situation, there will be a way out of it somewhere. As the owner of your chains, you have the right to break them, you have the ultimate say in how you live your life. Other people's choices and rules and influences will have an affect upon what choices are available to you, but you ultimately are the one to decide how to respond to such circumstances.

Liberty does not consist in mere general declarations of men. It consists in the translation of those declarations into definite action. - Woodrow Wilson, 1912