As we celebrate the 4th of July and our country's independence, it's natural to appreciate the freedom we have, relative to a large, and increasingly visible, part of the world. But what does it really mean to be free?
Freedom is defined in the dictionary as the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. In the Conversations with God books it is defined as limitless, without restriction of any kind; and as who we are. The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau also asserted that the condition of freedom was inherent to humanity, an inevitable facet of the possession of a soul and sapience. A state of being.
As we
look around the world, it's hard to imagine this to be true, so it's
useful to look at freedom in relative terms, which is why we often use
the term freedom from or freedom to.
Freedom from usually refers to
a negative noun, such as oppression or pain, which is also often
external. Freedom to usually refers to a verb, often positive and
internal, such as freedom to choose or to worship.
Many of us
enjoy a relatively immense degree of external freedom yet we do not
experience a corresponding level of joy and fulfillment. Conversely,
there are cultures across the world that do not enjoy anywhere near the
external freedoms we have, yet they seem to be happier, more at peace.
Might the true core of freedom lie in the internal realm?
This is not to minimize the value of external freedom. According to the Declaration of Independence, it is our inalienable right. And, as we see in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, it is a heck of a lot easier to give your attention to the sublime when you have food and shelter. Yet Victor Frankl, in his account of the Nazi concentration camps in Man's Search for Meaning, and countless other survivors of the world's greatest violations of external freedom have demonstrated that a state of internal freedom (the freedom to choose how one will respond to a situation) is the very thing that helped them survive.
Where in your life would you like to experience more freedom?
Freedom from:
self-judgment
shoulds
the opinions and approval of others
fear
self-doubt
guilt
others' expectations
beliefs that don't serve you
worry
reactivity
perfectionism
Freedom to:
explore your interests
follow your calling
express your heart's desire
do what you love
accept the present moment as perfect
make mistakes
love yourself
have fun often
take risks
not fit the mold, be as unique as you are
change your beliefs
choose how you want to feel
slow down
What would change for you if you freed yourself from one item on the From list, or acquired one freedom from the To list? How might you show up in the world differently? What might be possible in the world, particularly for those who are not free, if more of us lived from a place of internal freedom?
TAKE ACTION
This Independence Day, celebrate FREEDOM by eliminating one form of internal oppression or adding a freedom to your life. Share that new freedom in the world and help another do the same.
To your light,
Lisa
Comments