Mriya.run: Marathon of Mental Resilience – The Path to True Freedom

Do you know that pleasant feeling: "Finally. Everything is perfect"? As if you've just crossed the finish line of your dream marathon? This is a wonderful feeling, but it is precisely in such moments, both in running and in life, that the greatest danger lies – illusions. They subtly control our lives, hindering our true run towards ourselves. The "Mriya.run" project is not about physical running; it is a metaphor for our life marathon, a journey towards mental resilience, where every step is a conscious choice on the hero's journey.

Each of us has a magnificent yet incredibly fragile structure in our consciousness – the "crystal castle." This is our ideal life scenario, our own perfect "race plan." We build it from "Expectations," "Dreams," "Rules," and "Ideals," striving for an illusory sense of control over a chaotic world. It's like creating a perfectly flat, flawless running track in your mind, one that has no bumps, wind, or fatigue.

These blueprints for "ideal tracks" are often laid down in childhood, formed under the influence of fairy tales, movies, and idealized content. In this "crystal race," our scarcity of real experience paradoxically combines with proud self-sufficiency, powerlessness in the face of reality with omnipotence in our own fantasies. This is our "inner daimon," which promises a "thousand-year reich of perfection" but instead imprisons us in "psychological darkness," preventing us from truly seeing and living a real, imperfect, but vibrant life.

Most often and most painfully, we try to imprison our closest ones in this "crystal castle"... our "running partners." We write an ideal role for them, hand them a script, and await a flawless performance, forgetting that they are living people, not "pacers" who must maintain our ideal tempo. When a "real person cannot meet the demands of illusions" (because they are perfect!), a collapse occurs. Our "house of cards" turns into a heavy concrete slab that falls directly on our heads, causing not an illusory but a real, crushing pain.

This is like a runner who, instead of focusing on their own breath and strides, constantly controls other participants in the race, expecting them to run exactly as he wants. When they deviate from his "ideal route," he becomes disappointed, devaluing their efforts and his own ability to adapt. This is a cycle of idealization and devaluation, where the fear of being "not good enough" or "not fast enough" makes us prematurely devalue others to justify our own shattered illusions.

We try to conclude an unwritten "contract" with life itself, with the universe, expecting that "correct" behavior, "correct" thoughts, and "correct" actions will guarantee us a trouble-free "race" without any obstacles. This is like expecting every marathon to be run on a perfectly flat, asphalt track, with no hills, no wind, no rain. But reality, like an experienced marathon runner, often shatters this illusion with a peculiar, sometimes cruel truth.

Did you hope that psychology would protect you from "blows of fate"? That a famous specialist would never make a mistake? That unwavering faith would deflect a "shell" from your home? That your children would follow your path, and the state would always fulfill its obligations? This illusion of a "contract" shatters in the cruelest way, leaving us with a feeling of betrayal and deep disappointment. In life, as in running, there are unpredictable weather conditions, uneven roads, unexpected turns. True mental resilience lies in the ability to adapt to this "terrain," not to wait for ideal conditions.

The most dangerous "crystal castle" is the one we build for ourselves. This is the image of our "ideal Self" – the "ideal runner" who never tires, is always "in resource," productive, successful, flawless in everything – in appearance, career, relationships, even in their thoughts. We so enthusiastically scold ourselves for "laziness" when we allow ourselves to rest... we are horrified when we catch ourselves having a "bad" thought that doesn't fit into our "ideal positivity"... and we firmly believe that self-development is an absolutely straight and easy path exclusively upwards, without any pitfalls or setbacks.

This "inner Nazi" is not just a metaphor for a critic, but the most precise explanation of his cruelty towards our vulnerable, true essence – the "inner Child." He perceives this living part, striving for freedom, as a "Jewish boy" who is inherently guilty and has no right to exist in his natural form, who needs constant control, humiliation, and "re-education" for survival. He holds the "inner Child" in a "concentration camp" of consciousness, constantly dictating what to do, how to think, what to feel, forbidding any free, sincere manifestation. No compassion. No love. "He's not worthy! He hasn't achieved the ideal!" – the inner voice echoes. "What ice cream are you talking about? What new handbag? What useful thing have you done today? Nothing? Then you're worth nothing!" This Child is worth nothing in his eyes until he becomes "perfect." He believes that only absolute perfection can protect him from the outside world and its pain.

And the most ironic thing is that today, from all sides, we are actively helped to build these "crystal castles." I call this "AliExpress psychology" or "Instagram psychology." At every turn, we are offered quick fixes, universal formulas for happiness and success that do not require deep self-work, because why bother when you can just buy a "course"?! We are sold "marathons of desires" where it's enough to "visualize" for dreams to come true; we are taught to "be in resource" 24/7, despite objective fatigue and burnout; we are urged to "think positively" in any circumstances, ignoring real problems and emotions. This is like "doping" for the ego that promises a quick "finish" without proper training.

These shiny but empty "bricks" fuel our childlike belief in miracles, in an easy path to perfection without responsibility and effort, without accepting our own flaws. This is an extremely convenient and attractive escape from growing up, from the need to take responsibility for one's own life, from an uncomfortable but real reality with its challenges, uncertainty, and pain. This is a huge industry that thrives on our willingness to believe in fairy tales instead of facing our truth, accepting our imperfection, and starting real "self-work" – a real, exhausting, but much-needed training.

We have seen our "crystal castles" and understood their destructive influence. Now it's time for a cautious but decisive dismantling. We will not fight with ourselves, because "do not fight with yourself – the forces are unequal," just as a runner does not fight with their body, but works with it. We will be researchers and architects of a new, free space within, where every "kilometer" of life can be run consciously.

For this difficult but vitally necessary work, we will need effective "training tools":

When thoughts swarm in your head and emotions overwhelm, the first step to liberation is to record them. Simply start writing everything you feel, think, imagine, without censorship or self-criticism. A diary is your absolutely safe space where you can meet your true thoughts and feelings, without fear of judgment. This is your "running log" that allows you to track your "pace," "distance," and "well-being" on the journey of life. It will help reveal the hidden "rules" of your inner "Nazi coach."

Questions for reflection in your "running log":

Describe your ideal "run" from morning to evening. Who is there? What are they doing and saying? How do you feel on this "perfect" day? What emotions does it evoke in you? (This is the detailed plan of your crystal castle, its architecture).
Recall the last situation when you felt strong disappointment, anger, or pain. Now write down what you actually expected at that moment? Not "what you wanted" (desires), but precisely "what you expected" as due, as something that had to happen, because you "deserved" it?
Write a letter to your "ideal runner." Address it as a separate person. What do you demand of it? What do you accuse it of if it doesn't meet your standards? What, in your opinion, should it be like to be "good enough"? (This exercise will help identify the demands of your inner tyrant).
Try to write down a dialogue with your inner critic. Record its accusations, and then try to respond from a position of care and self-acceptance. What is the tone of its voice? What is it most afraid of? (This will help depersonalize the "Nazi" and see its motivation).

Sometimes words are not enough. Our rational mind is very cunning; it knows how to deceive, rationalize, and build strong defenses to avoid confronting pain. To bypass it and reach the deeper layers of the psyche, to our inner child, we need to speak the language of the soul. And the soul speaks the language of images, symbols, and archetypes. And here, amazing tools come to the rescue – Metaphorical Associative Cards (MAC).

This is not fortune-telling, not magic. This is a deep, safe conversation with your own subconscious. The principle is simple: you look at the image on the card and do not try to "guess" its correct meaning. It doesn't exist. You simply ask yourself: "What do I feel looking at this? What story unfolds here for me? What does this picture tell me? What can it tell me about my crystal castle, about my inner Nazi, or about my 'inner Child' who needs protection and love?" The "Mriya.run" project, as a platform offering its own author's MAC decks, such as "My Myth: The Hero's Journey," helps to speak to the soul in its own language. This is a powerful tool to understand not only what you have built, but most importantly – why you did it, and how to start healing your inner child – to give it the opportunity to "run" freely.

Some "crystal castles" and the cruelty of the "inner Nazi" are so deeply rooted that independent "runs" are not enough. In such cases, the help of a qualified psychotherapist – your personal "coach" for mental resilience – is indispensable. Remember, this is not a sign of weakness, but on the contrary – a sign of great strength and a desire for change. Modern methods of psychotherapy – like different types of training – offer effective ways to work with "traumas" and their consequences:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps to "change running technique," identify and change destructive thoughts and behavioral patterns that fuel your illusions and self-criticism. You will learn to recognize unrealistic expectations and build new, healthy ways of reacting.
Schema Therapy: Allows working with deep, early schemas (beliefs) that formed in childhood and underlie your trauma and the creation of the "ideal Self." This is like working with the "foundation" of your "running preparation."
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): An effective method for processing traumatic memories that helps reduce their emotional intensity and reframe their perception. This is like "restarting" traumatic "running patterns."
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Helps restore a sense of "safety on the track" through deep emotional work, allowing you to experience traumatic emotions in a safe environment and change emotional reactions.
Body-oriented therapy and somatic practices: Trauma is often "blocked" in the body. Practices such as yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and special somatic therapies help release emotions, calm the nervous system, and develop self-regulation. This is like "stretching" and "warm-up" for releasing emotions and developing self-regulation.

We are social beings, and the support of other people is crucial for healing. Remember, the inner Nazi often seeks to isolate us so that we don't see others who live "outside the rules" and don't receive support that could destroy him. Our "running team" is:

Open dialogues with loved ones: Learn to discuss your needs, fears, and doubts. This is like sharing experiences after a race, which strengthens relationships, reduces feelings of loneliness, and helps you see that others are also imperfect and have their "castles," their pains.
Support groups: Communicating with people who have similar experiences provides a sense of community, normalizes your experiences, and shows that you are not alone in your struggle. You share experiences, not just pain.
Development of assertive communication skills: Learn to set healthy "distance boundaries," express your thoughts and feelings directly but with respect, without devaluing yourself or others. This is the opposite of the "manipulations" often used by narcissistic individuals on the running track.

Dismantling the "crystal castle" is not a battle, but a process of acceptance. It's not about becoming perfect, but about accepting your true, living, imperfect essence. It's about finally giving freedom to your "inner Child" and allowing it to "run for its own pleasure."

Learning self-acceptance: This is the realization that you are worthy of love and respect as you are, with all your flaws and weaknesses. This is a step towards healing the "inner Child" and showing it that it is worthy of ice cream, a new handbag, rest, and simply being.
Self-compassion: Instead of self-criticism and blame, start treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding as you would a best friend who is experiencing difficulties on the distance.
Adaptation to a new state: Learn to accept reality as it is, not as it should be according to your illusions. This is the ability to be flexible, to find new "routes" and solutions when old "race scenarios" collapse, and to understand that not everything can be controlled.
Patience: This is not a quick process. There will be "setbacks," doubts, moments when the inner Nazi will try to take over again and sow doubt. But every step, every act of self-acceptance, every choice in favor of reality – this is your "victory on the distance."

Dismantling the "crystal castle" is not a one-time event or a quick cure for all problems. It is a lifelong practice of self-awareness, a path of mindfulness and acceptance. It is a choice we make every day: to live in an ideal, but dead, suffocating fantasy built from pain and trauma, or in an imperfect, but living, breathing, real reality.

A dream is a vector; it inspires, gives direction, fills life with meaning, leads to development. An illusion is a demand; it imprisons, creates suffering, paralyzes our ability to see and accept life as it is.

The "Mriya.run" project embodies this philosophy: it's not about ideal kilometers, but about consciously overcoming one's own path. It's about running your own marathon, feeling every step, breathing fully, despite fatigue or uneven terrain. Without the castle walls, without its illusory protection, it may feel a little cold and scary, unusual and uncomfortable at first. But believe me, only then do you truly begin to breathe. Only then can you feel true freedom and fullness of life.