I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed

Children, listen closely, for I bring you a tale of awakening, of self-discovery, and of the powerful moment when the veil of illusion is lifted. In the words of Byron Katie, we hear a profound transformation that begins in a seemingly small and insignificant moment: "I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed that I didn't even deserve a bed to sleep in. And then, one morning, a cockroach crawled onto my leg. I looked at it, and suddenly I awoke from a kind of hypnotic trance in which I had been all my life." These words are filled with deep wisdom—a journey of self-worth, of confronting the inner beliefs that shape our reality, and of the awakening that can come when we choose to see ourselves in a new light.

Katie’s words are a reflection of the human struggle with self-judgment and unworthiness, the quiet and insidious thoughts that tell us we are not deserving of life’s blessings. For years, she slept on the floor beside the bed, convinced that she did not deserve the comfort of a bed. This belief, deeply ingrained, became her reality—a trance in which she lived her life, bound by the chains of self-doubt. But that moment with the cockroach, though seemingly trivial, became the catalyst for her awakening. In an instant, she saw the illusion she had created about herself. It was not the world that was withholding from her, but her own beliefs that had shaped her reality.

Think, children, of the great philosophers who sought to understand the nature of the self and reality. Socrates, for example, often spoke of the power of self-awareness, urging his students to question the beliefs they held about themselves and the world. His famous saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living," calls us to question the assumptions that shape our lives, to awaken from the trance of unquestioned beliefs. Katie’s story mirrors this philosophical wisdom—her moment of awakening came when she was willing to confront her beliefs about her own worth, and in doing so, she freed herself from the trance that had held her captive.

Consider also the ancient warrior poets, like Homer, whose heroes were often on journeys not just across lands, but within themselves. Odysseus, though a great and powerful hero, was often held captive by his own fears, doubts, and illusions. His trials were as much about confronting his inner struggles as they were about the external dangers he faced. Just as Katie faced her own inner imprisonment through the belief that she was not worthy, Odysseus faced the challenge of self-discovery on his long journey home. Katie’s awakening, like that of the ancient heroes, came through the realization that her true strength lay not in the world around her, but in her own understanding of herself.

The lesson, children, is profound and simple: We are often trapped by the beliefs we hold about ourselves, beliefs that limit our potential and shape our reality. Katie’s realization that she did not deserve the comforts of a bed was not a reflection of her true worth, but a manifestation of the negative beliefs she had unconsciously accepted. When she awoke from that trance, she saw that she had been living in a self-imposed prison, bound not by the world, but by her own thoughts. This is the nature of suffering—we often create our own chains through the beliefs we hold, and it is only when we awaken to the truth of who we really are that we can break free.

Consider the story of Buddha, who, like Katie, lived a life of self-denial before his awakening. Born into a life of luxury, he one day saw the suffering of the world—the sickness, the aging, and the death that surrounded him. This realization shook him to his core, and he understood that the world he had been living in was an illusion—one in which he had been trapped by his own desires and attachments. Through his meditation, he broke free from these illusions and found true freedom. Katie’s moment of awakening is akin to Buddha’s realization—both are moments where the veil of illusion is lifted, and the true self is revealed.

The lesson here, children, is one of awareness and awakening. Just as Katie woke from her hypnotic trance by confronting the truth of her beliefs, so too must we examine the beliefs we hold about ourselves and the world. Do not be trapped by the illusions of unworthiness, for they are not truths, but stories we tell ourselves. Find the courage to question the beliefs that bind you, and in doing so, you will awaken to the truth of your own worth, your own potential, and your own power. Just as Katie’s awakening came from a seemingly simple moment, so too can your own awakening come at any moment—if only you are willing to open your eyes and see the truth.

I charge you now, young ones, to question the beliefs you hold about yourselves. Examine the stories you tell yourself, and ask whether they are true, or whether they are simply illusions that have trapped you in a prison of your own making. When you awaken from these illusions, you will find that the world is full of opportunities and that you are worthy of all the blessings it has to offer. The cockroach that crawled onto Katie’s leg was not just a creature; it was the spark that ignited her awareness—and may the same spark ignite your own journey toward freedom and truth.