The meaning of freedom: taking control of your life and living on your own terms
Intro
In today’s society, it is hard to pinpoint the exact meaning of freedom and what it can accomplish. In this blog, I want to analyze how you can become free, whatever your definition of freedom is. This could be having enough wealth that you can wake up on your own terms, being free from government control, or having the liberty of thought and being able to express your independence. The ability to achieve this comes with great responsibility and privilege. This is why such few countries have the ability to let their citizens live in their definition of “personal freedom.” Personal freedom as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “freedom of the person in going and coming, equality before the courts, security of private property, freedom of opinion and its expression, and freedom of conscience subject to the rights of others and of the public” This has some caveats, as the ability for personal freedom does not include the harm of other people. For example, someone can’t claim that rapping and enslaving women, is a part of their freedom as it breaks the rule of limitation, which in a sense means freedom can be pushed to the farthest bounds of ones mind limitations as long as it does not harm the freedom and liberty of another person.
How
From my own mind, I can think of two major ways you can be free in this new world society. You can either, make enough money to get whatever you want but still be confined by the rules and ethics of society or you can do what Chris McCandless did in the book, Into the Wild. He went off into the Alaskan Wilderness and abandoned his friends and family in search of personal freedom. These two ways I feel are the only ways to truly feel like you are free without hurting someone's liberty in search of your own. Since it's basically impossible in our current society to just abandon all responsibilities, I want to look at ways to become free from burdens and take control of your life. I believe taking control and having purpose is the true freedom in our world today.
4 ways to help you become free from burden and take control of your life
This can be a difficult process as this might require changing your current lifestyle habits and being open to change.
One thing is to identify stress and burden in your life. What is stopping you from achieving your goals? Is it financial stress, is it social stress or is it emotional?
By getting a grip on these you can start developing a plan to help you reach a more sustainable life. These include finding a new hobby or job that gives you purpose and less stress. This could also be finding a new partner that makes you happier because having someone you can rely on helps you feel better connected and in tune with what truly matters in your life. This could also be going to explore more of the world and getting out of your mundane routine that is causing a lot of social burdens.
Setting boundaries, saying yes to things that are important to you, and saying no to something that doesn't align with your goals, values, or responsibilities.
Sitting down the night before a big day, and having a clear plan written down could help you delegate your work day easier. Dosing out your days is not an easy task and requires a lot of upfront “stress” but makes it easier down the line when you don’t have to think about what you need to do, you just do it!
Prioritize self-care and bettering yourself, physically and mentally.
This is a huge key to becoming free and taking control of your life. Finding time in your days to prioritize working out, preferably high heart rate cardio or weight lifting, can significantly improve your well-being and also your productivity. This doesn't have to take a lot out of your day, but doing something early in the morning can really jumpstart your day
Another way you can improve your self-care is by eating healthy and limiting the number of drinks you consume, alcoholic and juices. It doesn't take a lot to eat healthily but it does take work. Eating whole foods like meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits all improve focus and gut health. The brain and gut are connected, they say that 80% of the serotonin in your body comes from your gut. So a good way to feel good and be happier is to eat whole healthy foods.
The next way is to improve your mental health is by relaxing and practicing mindfulness techniques like meditation. This can be huge for attention and focus, allowing you to work on what's important for you longer.
The next thing you can do is sleep well and go to bed earlier. The key to a healthy mind and body is getting adequate sleep. You can also track your sleep with a device like a whoop band, apple watch or oura ring.
The last tip I have is to maintain a healthy relationship with the sun, getting up early and exposing your eyes to the sunlight is a good way to wake up and get your circadian rhythm started. Also lying in the sun will expose your body to healthy vitamins, that enrich your mind, body, and soul.
Reflect on your values and goals: find a worthy goal and stick to it
Take time to understand what you think is the most important thing in your life and find meaning behind that. This will drive you to become a better person, pushing you to accomplish great things. Having focus and drive, you can dedicate your time to things that are meaningful which ultimately gives you power and control over your own life.
Conclusion
Freedom is an important concept because it allows individuals to make their own choices and determine their own path in life. It allows people to think, speak, and act according to their own beliefs and values, rather than being oppressed or controlled by others. Freedom is also essential for the development and progress of society, as it allows for diverse ideas and perspectives to be expressed and considered. Without freedom, individuals may feel stuck and unable to realize their potential or contribute to their community fully. Therefore, it is important to protect and defend the freedom of individuals in order to promote a fair and just society. In today’s society, the only true freedom is to be able to wake up and believe you're enough in this world. In order to feel that way, I believe people need to take control of their lives and it starts with bettering themselves each day. If you need to accomplish something, set your mind to it, develop a plan, and attack. Don’t wait for someone else to come save you, the only person stopping you from achieving your goals is you. We all have the freedom to make our choices and live out our dreams, all it takes is a desire.
Sources
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal%20freedom
