In order to figure out what to release on the way to ourselves we should
consider our conditionings.
Classical conditioning is a reflexive or automatic type of learning in which
a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked
by another stimulus.
You might be familiar with Pavlov's Dog as the classical example for conditioning. In the early twentieth century, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov did experiments with dogs as follows: Pavlov's dogs, restrained in an experimental chamber, were presented with meat powder and they had their saliva collected via a surgically implanted tube in their saliva glands. Over time, Pavlov noticed that his dogs began salivation before the meat powder was even presented, whether it was by the presence of the handler or merely by a clicking noise produced by the device that distributed the meat powder.
Fascinated by this finding, Pavlov paired the meat powder with various stimuli such as the ringing of a bell. After the meat powder and bell were presented together several times, the bell was used alone. Pavlov's dogs responded by salivating to the sound of the bell without the food.
Similar experiences were conducted not only on dogs but on human beings as well. Now, if we consider that human behavior can be influenced in the same way, then we should figure out where "bells" are still part of our lives. In order to release such behavior, we need to become aware of this kind of manipulation.
Another experiment was done with fish: First, they put a pike along with some small fish in a fish tank. The pike ate all small fish. After that, they placed a plexiglass window in the middle, the pike on one side, and the small fish on the other. From their born instinct, the small fish swam to the bottom corner furthest away from the pike. The pike tried to catch the fish and smashed his nose on the window several times.
After a while, all animals had learned: The pike stopped smashing its nose and the small fish swam all over the place, on their side. Then, the window was removed, unnoticed. Guess what happened?
The pike swam on his side and the small fish on there's. None of them had noticed the difference.
For us humans it might mean to watch out for limitations which no longer make sense. Maybe they did serve their purpose once. But, it might be worth checking whether we still need them. We might want to ask: "Are imaginary limitations holding us back living our full potential?"
Such limitations might also originate in former generations as a further example from the animal world shows: After the fall of the inner German wall, even 25 years later, there is still no deer crossing, although animals have been born within succeeding generations. The same applies for humans. We, too, adopt habits and programs of our ancestors. From time to time we should reevaluate their validity and check whether they are still beneficial.
Therefore, it is quite useful to release the conditioning, drop obsolete programs and step over imaginary borders which are long gone.
How do we do that? Well, Anthony de Mello recommends: "Mere awareness will cause to die whatever is unhealthy and will cause to grow whatever is good and holy. Approval and condemnation are not needed to reform your life and actions. Awareness alone will heal."
The conscious awareness of our imaginary limitations will therefore finally
lead to releasing them.