It’s the weekend of July 4th. I see all the posts on social media about the parties and barbecues taking place, but what I don’t see is the celebration of our freedom. Since Independence Day is when the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence and gained it’s freedom, it got me thinking. Why am I not seeing more posts about how lucky we are to live in a free society? Now, I’m not going to get political on you but I do want to share with you my thoughts on freedom and how finding your own sense of freedom can tremendously help you live a healthier, happier life.
Freedom is the ability to do anything you want, when you want, wherever you want. But as we all know, we live in a world with structure and rules. To me, freedom is the ability to make your own choices and not having to make decisions.
Here’s an example:
You just got paid and you really want to go to a concert next month but you also have bills due – your car payment, the mortgage and the vet bill for Fluffy’s surgery last month. So what do you do? In theory you have a choice, but in reality you are being forced to choose. In reality, a choice would be paying your bills AND going to the concert because you have the freedom to do so.
What freedom looks like to you, might look different to someone else.
You can see freedom and independence in many ways, including monetarily. But there are many ways to look at it. If you’re a mom, freedom might be the ability to leave work and pick up your kids early from school. If you’re in Sales, it might be the freedom to make a huge sale for your company by making the deal on your own. Only YOU can define freedom. It’s hard to know that you can stand on your own, support yourself and not have to lean on anyone. Your mind can be your best friend or you worst enemy when trying to gain your independence. Working through personal development can help you deal with these struggles. But it can be a challenge.
Think of what it would look like to be truly free. It’s not all flowers, but it is amazing. Working with a partner, a best friend or having a devil’s advocate to talk through your dilemma can help. They can offer advice, share ideas with you that you might not have thought of and help you work through what you’re going through.
And sometimes, having a coach is just what you need. Contact me to find out how we can work together to help you find your independence and get you to a life you always wanted.