Freedom is a Choice

Think back to when you were a child.  Summer days running around and playing games in your neighborhood.  Laying in the grass talking with your friends.  Total freedom from worry and responsibility. 

As an adult, we may not feel as free and easy as we were when we were younger.  The responsibilities of making money to pay bills has us thinking that we are not free at all.  We may be in a relationship with someone and not feel free to go out with our friends as often as we would like.  There is also the restrictions put on us with the pandemic and quarantine which has us feeling that we are not at all free to do what we want.

The strongest principle of growth lies in the human choice.

George Eliot

The truth is that even though these things may have us feeling restricted, we are still free to do as we would like.  We are free to make the decision to quit our job, go out with our friends, or do anything we desire during the pandemic.  The reality is, though, that if you make those choices, you more than likely will have to suffer some consequences from your decisions. 

However, in the ultimate sense, it is still my choice. That can’t be taken away. I may have to suffer the ramifications of those choices though.  As an American I have many freedoms, but these are constrained by laws and social expectations.

So long as we are brave enough to accept the consequences of our actions, no one can take away our freedom of choice.

Mike Norton

The freedoms that we enjoy, and have more control over, are personal freedoms.  We can choose the way our thoughts affect our minds and bodies.  If we notice that we are becoming overwhelmed with life, we may choose to take a walk in nature to bring us back to the freedom of being a child.  We may choose to be creative with dance, painting, photography, or music.  We may play a game with friends or family.

Freedom is also a choice in financial situations.  We have a choice of where and how we spend our money. We have a choice to re-think the old way we would experience money and develop a new relationship with our pay checks and bank accounts.  Spend some time thinking of your thoughts and feelings around money.  Where did these values come from? Release these outdated thoughts and patterns and free yourself from this burden. 

It is our choices… that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

J. K. Rowling

Instead of focusing on things you cannot control and the subsequent feeling of confinement or restraint, try focusing on what you can control in your life, and the resulting feeling will be one of freedom.  As you release the old beliefs and behaviors, you will learn and grow to develop into your best self.