We can feel “caged in” because of limitations the world has set on us and other times, because of limitations we set on ourselves. When we as peacemakers encounter people feeling they are “caged,” it is important first to acknowledge and honor the pain of being restricted and feeling unable to escape. Recognizing the discomfort of the “cage” precedes understanding how the cage came to be. Only once the pain is acknowledged and an offer of help is extended, can a discussion occur that helps to bring understanding to how a person might transform or escape.

Conflicted relationships can make us feel like escape is the only option. Setting unrealistic expectations on our own abilities, is equally unsettling, onerous, and restrictive. Sometimes people don’t even realize they are feeling confined until they realize there is an alternative. Effective peacemakers can see the limitations and know how to help people remove them. Any “cage” is real to the person who is restrained.

Sometimes as peacemakers, we need to recognize how we limit ourselves by belief systems, biases, and cultural ideas. If we are to be effective, we need to learn to remove ourselves from our own “cage” first.