To dance

A philosophical friend of many years the other day quoted Nietzsche approvingly ("isn't this great!") as having written that

True freedom is being able to dance in your chains.

I suppose that the statement might remind us that, whatever our circumstances, we should try to make the best of them. Mother Nature has worked out the matrix of our fundamental situation, including the consciousness by which we have intentionality and choice. That is, we have some free choice within the bounds (bonds) of our various genetic hard wirings. We are "enslaved" by the same process that evolved our "freedom." But Nietzsche's motto adds nothing to that; we do as Mother Nature created us to do. Or, in the words of spiritual guide Anthony de Mello (1931-1987), "All is well."

However, we are also enslaved by our particular cultural situations, the indoctrinations of our parents and local surrogates, the ethos of our cohorts, our cliques of friends and associates. To the extent that we have bought into sentimental (and largely false) beliefs, the better alternative to "dancing" within them is to throw them off and, as Anthony de Mello also said, "Wake up to life!"
    True freedom from a false belief system comes from shattering it for one that accords with reality. Only then can we stand tall and dance truly, with spirit. To continue in the bonds of religion or cultural or political servitude is to march in lock-step. It is not to dance.