The entire book of Philippians in the Bible is about rejoicing in suffering. It has always struck me as odd that anyone would be happy whilst they suffer. The Untethered soul reminds me of this concept.
The Untethered Soul is described as the true self.
In fact, according to the author, an untethered soul is free from all boundaries and limitations; it soars beyond and gives peace that he calls ecstasy.
The cover page is a horse running freely on a beautiful beach. It is just about as good to be true as you can imagine.
Table of contents
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Where can I read the Book The Untethered Soul
I believe that the Untethered soul: The journey beyond yourself is a religious book. In the untethered soul: the journey beyond yourself, the author is found quoting scripture directly from the bible and many other spiritual books.
I, however, can only speak on the biblical ones as they are the ones I am familiar with. I was able to read it on audiobook on YouTube for free.
Another option for the free audiobook is on Audible, so if you are like me, then this is available for you, and the reader is quite alright, I must confess. If however, you are more of a reader, free versions are also available online.
The untethered soul: the journey beyond yourself consists of 19 chapters, all in 5 parts, with a page count of about 200 pages. It is an incredibly easy read and was well written.
The message is clear, ‘Do not close!’ Stop worrying about the myriad of things that bother you. Small things like when your boyfriend fails to respond to your text message immediately should not upset you but should be allowed right through your heart.
The untethered soul is one that never closes; Closing is the concept of refusing an experience to pass through you. You hold on to certain experiences in your life, and the more that you hold onto, the less energy at your disposal.
The way I understand it, energy can only be seen in the form of happiness and motivation.
Detailed Book review of The Untethered Soul
The untethered soul: the journey beyond yourself dares to mention depression as one of the negative effects of a heart that has been closed for far too long.
I particularly like the allegory provided in the book about the person that lives in his house and gets so used to it he forgets that there is such a thing as outside. Perhaps it is the introvert in me that loves it.
The author is trying to show you that you are capable of such ecstasy and that it is within you. Life is your friend and is trying constantly to provide situations where you must choose to take the role of the observer (the true self that resides within) and let that uncomfortable feeling pass through you. That is the only way you take down the walls of that house you have built.
Walls that he argues are made entirely of thoughts. I think I have heard of such a concept, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The untethered soul: the journey beyond yourself paints a picture of driving down a street.
There are all these things you see as you drive. Grass, trees, birds, and even cars pass by. Suddenly, you see a particular familiar car and think it’s your girlfriend hugging someone else in the front seat.
You instantly start to resist the experience, and you close. In closing, the experience gets engraved in your heart, so to speak.
In my understanding, you never forget the experience, not even after years have gone by and you are happily married. This got me thinking, what is the reason we ever remember things? Because if you asked me what I spotted today on my way to work, I couldn’t tell you. But if I saw a lion on the way, I would certainly remember the details.
Is our memory just better when we are faced with uncomfortable situations? I digress. If things were to perpetually be going through me, won’t I forget a lot of things?
The primary objective of the book is to make you aware of just how capable you are at commanding yourself. It places the power in your hands.
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Detailed Book review of The Untethered Soul by Chapters
Chapters 1 to 8
In fact, in the very first chapters of the book, the author uses the word expert to describe the self, especially in matters concerning you.
He states that you can live constantly close to God and understand him more than any book or article or any person can.
Just be going within and listening to your true self. Not your mind, not your body, but your true self, the untethered soul.
The subject matter does not close. Once you close, you are only setting yourself back in terms of becoming that much closer to God. But doesn’t that go against the very nature of God? I mean, how can God be like me? I am no God! Such talk in the book would be dismissed as the voice in your head, a voice that nobody should ever listen to.
A voice that is terrible for you. There is nothing good that comes from this voice. I have read of something like this before in the bible.
However, the Bible calls this the flesh. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: … Romans 7:18.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2. God does not seem like he wants us to use our minds to try to figure him out.
I would argue that The untethered soul: the journey beyond yourself is a man trusting in his mind to get him closer to God. Ironical since he paints the mind in a negative light.
The same Jesus that said Love your enemies is the same one that said, ‘Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do…’ John 8:44. Not only this, but they preached in parables purposely to keep certain people from understanding. If you ask me, perfect love can not exist without perfect hate.
To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven:… A time to love and a time to hate: a time of war and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 8 (emphasis mine).
I think we tend to have problems with negative emotions only because they have been labeled negative.
But without negative, how can there be positive? I would argue that anger, jealousy, hate, and fear are not always bad. I understand that they can get bad, but all things in excess are bad.
Doesn’t the saying go, too much of something is poison? Feel the fear and do it anyway. Feel the pain and let time heal your wounds. This, too, shall pass. But attempting to glorify the pain is another matter altogether.
Review of chapter 10
There was a fallacy I noticed in Chapter 10 when the author asks that you reflect on whether it is reasonable to get worried about a greeting that you issued but was not responded to.
To reason would require your mind, and you are not to be listening to your mind at all. Your mind is where that voice in your head resides, and we already know that guy is up to no good.
I would offer an alternative; the alternative is that you train your mind to see the positive even in the negative and be able to rejoice even in suffering. 2 Corinthians 10:5… ‘and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’.
So when you hear your mind tell you that you can’t do it, prove it wrong and do it. Don’t sit there and be a victim. It is important not to cancel that voice in your head completely. The mind is the one that gave mankind some great inventions and discoveries in science.
I believe greatly in sitting down and reasoning within ones’ self. It will give you such powerful insight. Things you never even thought yourself capable of realizing. That is the power of the brain.
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CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the untethered soul: the journey beyond yourself was a good read. I would recommend it to a person that has a negative voice in their head.
It made me realize that love and happiness are reachable to all. We may never get there, but it is possible. God is love, and without God, there can not be love. Not perfect love, at least.
References
Recommendation
