The Caged Bird and the Open Sky
In a quiet town, there lived a woman named Meera. Meera was a homemaker, a mother, a daughter-in-law, and a wife. She wore many hats, yet deep inside, she felt like a bird trapped in a golden cage—decorated but confined.
Every day was a routine. The house had to be spotless, meals had to be served at the right time, and everyone had expectations. But no one noticed Meera. No one asked if she was tired, if she needed rest, or even if she had dreams of her own.
Her husband, Rohan, loved order. He expected her to be available whenever he needed attention. Her in-laws had a way of finding faults—why wasn’t the tea warm enough, why were the children making noise, why wasn’t she faster, better, perfect? Meera tried harder. She thought that if she did everything right, maybe one day, they would love her for who she was.
But that day never came.
At night, when the house was silent, she lay awake. Was there something wrong with her? Why did she feel suffocated? Why did she check the doors multiple times, clean the house endlessly, and drink water even when she wasn’t thirsty? Why couldn’t she relax when her children weren’t in sight? Was she the problem?
One evening, as she sat near the window, she saw a small sparrow trapped inside her house. It flapped its wings in panic, trying to escape. Meera gently opened the window. The bird hesitated—it was so used to confinement that the open sky felt uncertain. But then, with a deep breath, it flew.
In that moment, Meera realized something: she, too, had a window.
She didn’t need to run away. She didn’t need to fight. She just needed to find the sky within herself—the space in her mind where she was free.
The Healing Worksheet: Finding Your Sky
Step 1: Understanding Your Feelings
When do you feel most trapped? Write down the moments that make you feel suffocated.
When do you feel a sense of peace? Even if small, note those moments.
Step 2: What’s in Your Control?
✅ Things You Can Control
The way you breathe
The time you take for yourself
What you choose to believe about yourself
How you respond to criticism
❌ Things You Cannot Control
How others treat you
Their expectations of you
Their words and actions
📝 Exercise: Make two columns: "My Control" and "Not My Control." Write things under each.
Step 3: Letting Go of What Hurts
Think of one unrealistic expectation placed on you (e.g., "I must always be perfect").
Write down a new self-compassionate belief (e.g., "I am human, and I am enough").
Step 4: A Small Act of Freedom Every Day
Pick one small thing daily that makes you feel alive (e.g., dancing for 5 minutes, listening to music, stretching).
Write it down and commit to doing it without guilt.
Final Thought
Like the sparrow, your wings have always been there. You don’t need permission to fly. Even in the same house, even in the same life, you can create your sky—one breath, one moment, one choice at a time.
Comments