Freedom by Choice
Freedom means different things to different people. Take a moment to consider what freedom means to you. You may be closer to achieving it than you think.
I used to think freedom was something I needed to work towards. My career has been focused around creating freedom, or so I thought. There was a constant striving to move towards my idea of freedom. Recently I learnt to look at life from a different perspective and discovered the freedom I have already created.
Freedom is often sought in order for people to be happy. You may be familiar with the phrase ‘I’ll be happy when…’ this indicates the speaker perceives there is something missing in their life, and they can potentially overlook all that is good until they get the thing they are waiting for. Unfortunately many make freedom so difficult to achieve, they never seem to reach it.
We all have our own definition of freedom based on our values. For example, I feel free being able to work from anywhere. I feel free doing work I love, and taking time out when I want to. I feel free playing music; and spending time with friends and family. I especially feel free when I’m walking on the beach.
What does freedom mean to you? When do you lose yourself? What are you doing? Where are you? Who are you with? That is your freedom. Take a pen and paper and write down what freedom means to you. Make it easy to achieve so you can experience it regularly. Now you can choose to build this into your months, weeks and days. If freedom equals happiness to you, doesn’t it make sense to make it easily achievable?
Freedom is a choice, a state of mind. Even under incredibly restricting and negative circumstances Viktor Frankl chose to be free in his mind while being held captive in a concentration camp. "The last of human freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.” Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl’s words stand true for all situations, you don’t need to have experienced tragedy or negative circumstances to be able to turn what you have now into something you enjoy. If you choose to view freedom as something that is easy to achieve, it will be easy to achieve.
You are free to choose your attitude, feelings and thoughts at any moment. It’s also your choice how you share them with those around you. Nobody has control over you. You are your navigator, captain and master. For some people this can be frightening. For others this is enlightening. Taking responsibility for yourself means you take responsibility for all your results, good, bad or otherwise. There is no one to blame when you realise you are free.
Notice throughout your day, where you freely choose to do and think things. Also notice when you don’t, and reassess whether you did in fact have a choice. Did anyone else make you respond or act in that way? Can another person or circumstances force you to choose one thing over another? Or does it come from yourself internally? Who is really in control of your thinking, feeling and sensing? Your subconscious mind is more powerful than any person outside of you. This being the case, you have the freedom and power to choose what’s right for you in any situation.
Sometimes it’s a bitter pill to swallow, and those who have not chosen freedom argue that their circumstances are such that they have no choice. There is always more than one option. Do you or don’t you? Can or can’t, should or shouldn’t, will or won’t? There is also the choice to do, think or say nothing. You are free to make any of those choices at any time and in actual fact, you do that anyway.
Do you intend a life of freedom? A life guided by design is more rewarding than a life by chance. The choice is yours.
Author: Robyn Simpson from Choose The 'Tude!
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