As the 4th of July is here, I’m thinking about what freedom means to me.
A few weeks ago I wrote about happiness being an inside job. Freedom is also an inside job. What do I mean?
Think about Nelson Mandela. He was in prison for 28 years. I’ve read that he created a sense of freedom inside of himself despite being behind bars for so long. It’s what we do inside of our thoughts, our minds, our hearts, that creates freedom in our lives.
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela
[bctt tweet=”For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela” username=”ConnieHertz”]
We all have power of choice. Do you agree? Every second of every day, you are making choices. Choices that are creating your future.
As you slow down, take deep breaths, tune into your intuition, your God, Source, Spirit, you can then make better choices that are in alignment with what you really want in your life and how you want to live your life. Stop living on auto-pilot!
As you take responsibility for everything you do and don’t have in your life and stop blaming others, you’ll have more freedom. Freedom can feel risky at times, and involves your taking personal responsibility for everything you say and do.
However turning away from freedom and staying within “safe” limits, or letting anyone else control your actions or thinking, will restrict you as a person.
We are each the sum total of our choices, of our lessons, and experiences we have each had along our journey’s here on this planet. It’s up to each of us to move forward and choose to learn from all of these lessons without blaming ourselves or anyone else.
That is freedom.
To let go of the best we can, our limiting beliefs and negative mindset, will set us free.
In my gratitude journal I often write that I’m grateful for my freedom to be me. There was a time in my life I didn’t choose to be free to be me. I allowed myself to be controlled by what my then husband was feeling or thinking. I didn’t know any better at the time. I was not living within peace or freedom as I am today.
As I look back, I have come quite a long way.
I am grateful too for the fact that I live in the United States of America. We have so many freedoms here that other countries do not have.
What are your thoughts about freedom? Will you leave me a comment below about what it means to you?
Here’s to living in freedom,
Connie
To me, freedom is not free. I try to make a point when I cross paths with a service women/man, to thank them for my freedom!!!!!
Freedom is not having expectations of others!!!!! People are gonna do, what they are gonna do, whether we like it or not. Let those expectations go!!!!!
Wise words Michelle! Thanks for your comments! Love and blessings to you!~
Very well said Connie!
Thank you Carol! What helps you to feel that you’re living within freedom? What are your thoughts?
Freedom and Independence: you are born of a loving spirit and in that you are beauty light love and joy.
Living in that space and enjoying yourself in that is Freedom. When another tries to bring negative energy into your space, or a negative judgement of you (as we have all experienced at some time), you have the freedom to choose whether you will let that negativity affect you, thus define your perception of yourself and your life. Or you can again recognize the truth of who you really are, beauty love and light, and enjoy the Freedom Independent from another’s negative influence.
It’s your choice, our choice each, whether we choose to be in the space of Freedom from the bondage of negativity (thus fear).
Love Light Beauty Peace and Joy to you all, us all How wonderful that it really is within our power to choose.
Beautiful Lisa! You are so wise! Thanks for sharing your wonderful insights, so those that read what you wrote may be helped. And it is our choice!