Freedom
 |
| Photo found HERE. |
This has to be one of the most difficult areas of the Success Identity for me in establishing goals. The concept of freedom is so broad and encompassing, and yet creates a very specific, visceral response in me. I feel the need for this more than I can intellectually understand or define it.
I'm going to list a bunch of synonyms (and a few definitions) associated with freedom and I want you to pay attention to how you feel as you read each word/concept. What do they mean to you specifically? Which words/concepts resonate with you most and why?
Freedom. Abandon. Ability to stand alone (unsustained by anything else), to make choices. Absence (of undue restrictions). Autonomy. Candid. Choice. Compass. Decision (determining one's own actions). Discretion. Elbowroom. Exemption. Flexibility. Free rein. Free speech. Free will. Independence. Liberty. Living by one's own laws. Openness. Opportunity (to exercise one's rights, powers, desires, etc). Own accord. Power. Prerogative. Privilege. Range. Release. Run. Self-determination. Self-government. Unrestraint (lack of restrictions and physical restraints). Wide-open spaces.
 |
| Photo found HERE. |
Freedom spans all aspects of our life including physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. We crave autonomy in the work place and at home. We need it in our families and our relationships.
(ASIDE: It's so interesting to me that while we crave belonging to a greater whole with people invested in us and we invested in them, we also need the ability to be an individual, to make our own choices, to exercise our rights and power. We need wiggle room. Thus true fulfillment requires a balance of these two, seemingly-conflicting needs.)
But what do we do when we don't have it? Well, I think that's up to you.
Can you change the situation? Will your goals this week be baby steps towards moving from a job you hate to one you can love (or at least tolerate)? That doesn't mean quit tomorrow! Think about updating your resume or honing your interview skills. The idea is that your choices lead you towards improving freedom.
If changing a specific situation isn't an option, can you focus on an aspect of your life where you do have more control and can you exercise greater freedoms in that area? Maybe you say "yes" to everything because you think you have to. Perhaps this week you can focus on setting healthy boundaries and saying "no" to requests that you really don't want to do.
- Want some inspiration for dealing with tough situations you can't control? Check out Victor E. Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning.
- Need to know where to start on establishing boundaries? Take a look at one of my favs, Boundaries: When to Say Yes and When to Say No.
Writing this post has really helped me to see some concrete goals I can set to increasing my sense of autonomy and freedom. Thank you! You guys rock! What goals will you set? How important is choice in your life?
Plan & Evaluate
Keep it quick. Spend 5 minutes (or less) each day to plan and evaluate your Success Identity choices.
- Mornings: "What will I do? ONE SIMPLE thing I can do within the next 24 hours that will bring me closer to belonging? Power? Freedom?" (Three goals total).
- Evenings: "What did I do? Did my choices enhance, harm or not affect the success identity?"
Keep it simple. We don't need to leap buildings in a single bound. Small changes, when added together, will lead to big impact.
Keep a record. At evening evaluation, jot down a sentence or two about how you're feeling or any insights you've gleaned. This will help you see the small progress.
Extra Help
Look for daily FREEDOM challenges via Twitter (#SuccessID) and Facebook (D.B. Smyth author page).
Good luck this week! I'll see you next Thursday and I look forward to hearing about all the experiences you're going to have!
Hugs,
~Deb
What experiences did you have with POWER last week?
What are your thoughts on FREEDOM? What does freedom mean to you? Why is it important?
Success Identity Series
- I Can't Get No Satisfaction: The Success Identity Challenge
- #SuccessID Challenge: BELONGING
- By the power of Grayskull... I have the POWER
- Fun. Fun. How can we have FUN?
Power
ReplyDeleteI think the challenges for POWER came at just the right time in my life. The hubbs and I have been dealing with some particularly difficult life stuff that felt like Maryland in the recent past: snow-meggedon followed by earthquake followed by tropical storm/hurricane. I'm just waiting for the volcano. But focusing on power this week really helped me to focus on the things within my control. Instead of feeling burdened by the long list of natural disasters, I felt empowered. And I really worked hard at letting my efforts, regardless of "size," be good enough. Just another tiny shift to my paradigm, but I am grateful for the insight no matter how small.
FREEDOM: I'll add my thoughts next Thursday, but I'd really like to hear yours!
ReplyDeleteBeing a good friend of mine you already know I have a fierce need for freedom. So often I feel bogged down by the responsibilites of life and need to escape. I think my need for freedom is what led me to writing. I have always been able to escape in the written word. But actually writing the stories gives an even greater feeling of not only freedom but accomplishement as well. As for goals in this area... That seems like a tall order. Sleep less. Quit doing the dishes/laundry. Ditch the kids. Nope, I don't know how to find more freedom. At least not the kind I want (time). I'll be looking forward to your helpful suggestions throughout the week.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how helpful my suggestions will be as I'm trying to figure this one out myself, but I hope we can make some progress together! Time is a finite resource that always seems to be in high demand. I think we're all trying to figure out how to make more of it, lol, or at least stretch it a little farther. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteWow. What an excellent, thought-provoking post. I'm not quite sure where to begin. If I'm honest, I'll admit that I often take our freedom for granted. And by that, I mean freedom in the broader sense. But more and more, it seems the government is threatening to take it all away. They observe us more, they are trying to reduce the ease with which women can choose to have an abortion, they are trying to restrict education and voting and who we can and can't marry and how and when we can express our faith...it's scary. The way the extreme right wing is coming down on women right now...I don't know if you've seen some of the bills some of these states are trying to pass, but it's terrifying. I'm not sure what to do about it other than vote. Even that seems contrived by others to create from us what they really want. In other words, even our votes are manipulated. Thus, our freedom is reduced.
ReplyDeleteAs far as my own freedom, I do crave it...but I also have it. I didn't have it while married to my ex. But I do have it now with Mike. If I need time alone, I have it. If I need to escape, I can. Mike wants for me what makes me happy, and he doesn't make me ashamed or guilty for taking what I need. Whether that's freedom or attention. And visa versa.
Fantastic post,sweetie. I look forward to your posts all the time!
Thanks, April! I'm so glad you've found greater freedom in your new relationship!!! It makes my heart sad to know of people (men and women) who are being abused, controlled and/or stifled by their other half.
DeleteYou also bring up an interesting point on restrictions. I was fascinated that one of the definitions described freedom as the absence of *undue* restrictions. Restrictions--boundaries--are a necessary part of life. They help all of us to play nice in the sandbox and provide protection. However, there is that word undue. Too many restrictions (especially the unnecessary ones) are just as bad as none at all. And finding a balance with so many different opinions all screaming at each other... very, VERY difficult.
Great thoughts! I appreciate you!
I think the best examples of freedom, or at least in terms of philosophical debate, comes from the existential school of thought. I'll try to condense, but basically, the idea that you're responsible for your own happiness and defining that happiness (because the world is crazy and has no meaning) within the boundaries in which you find yourself. SO, even if you're in jail, if you are content with that world that is within the confines of your cell, you're actually free, and probably happier than the majority of non-jailed people. It's basically the idea that you, the observer lend meaning to the circumstance rather than a circumstance having any intrinsic meaning.
ReplyDeleteAside from the whole "no meaning" thing (since I do espouse core values/universal truths), I do believe the premise of finding contentment in a present situation is very valid. Plus, it allows me to be objective and take ownership of wherever I am in life (which ties to that "empowerment" theme you mentioned before).
I go back to this example a lot, but my current job is not my dream job, but it gives me so much, including a roof over my head. Some people see their day job as trapping them from what they want to do in their life, like writing or owning their own business, whatever. But, I have chosen to see it as giving me the resources to support my writing. Quite frankly, scratching out my stories with a charcoal briquet on dried out leaves because I no longer have a computer and house because I couldn't pay my bills? Does NOT seem like a step in the direction toward my dreams.
Anywho, I should probably write a post about it since I keep "blogging" in my comments to you ;)
xoxo
oops, I meant to say: I LOVE those images you found! I want to grab them for pinterest!
DeleteOh Liza! You said this so well!!!! Everything I wanted to say and more. I should have you writing my posts, hehehe! Especially helpful to me is the idea that "you lend meaning to the circumstance rather than the circumstance having any intrinsic meaning." Thanks friend! This is so incredibly helpful to me!
Delete