What does it mean to be free?
What we all actually want more than anything else.
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it really means to be free?
Or, to reflect on where in your life you feel the absence of freedom?
Freedom, according to Oxford Languages, is “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” Wikipedia expands on this by defining freedom as the “power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint.”
With the recent observance of Juneteenth and today’s July 4th, holidays that symbolize freedom and independence, I've been pondering the true essence of freedom and its significance in our lives.
Through my own life experience and the thousands of women I have worked with, it has become clear to me that what we all yearn for, more than anything, is to feel free.
But freedom is multifaceted, and comes in so many forms:
Freedom of movement
Freedom of speech
Religious freedom
Educational freedom
Intellectual freedom
Financial freedom
Physical freedom
Emotional freedom
Freedom from harm or abuse
Freedom from want
Personal freedom
Relational freedom
Sexual freedom
Medical freedom
Time freedom
And the list goes on...
Reflecting on my own life, I recall numerous times when I felt trapped or stuck, unable to envision a pathway forward. These moments, and my journey through them, are why I’m passionate about what I do.
We all find ourselves in these moments, and when we do, we often feel alone, afraid, and overwhelmed.
Exploring Different Dimensions of Freedom
Freedom can be subtle, and can manifest in many different ways. So, let me ask you this…:
Are you free if you can’t speak the truth in your intimate relationships?
Are you free if you can’t express your true thoughts or feelings to friends?
Are you free if you want something but don’t feel supported by family or friends?
Are you free if you feel guilty for taking time off work?
Are you free if you don’t have time to care for yourself?
Are you free if you can’t imagine having fun?
Are you free if you don’t allow yourself to dream or pursue your true desires?
Are you free if you feel trapped in your own life?
Only you can answer these questions and pinpoint where in your life you don’t feel free. It’s okay if some or all of these ring true for you, we all experience a lack of freedom in one way or another.
Perhaps it is time to redefine freedom.
We often equate the absence of freedom with extreme conditions like slavery, abuse, poverty, sickness, or homelessness. However, many of us grapple with subtler forms of restriction that prevent us from living fully expressed lives.
At its core, freedom is about feeling safe enough to show up as your authentic self, to speak your truth, and to pursue what you genuinely want.
So, the big question is, in what ways do you feel free; and in what ways don’t you?
As I contemplate the meaning of freedom, I acknowledge the tremendous injustice in the world and the countless individuals who suffer from a lack of these freedoms. I stand with those who are suffering and commit to fighting these injustices in any way that I can.
It’s challenging to honor our own constraints when we compare them to the severe hardships others face. Nonetheless, it’s crucial that we do.
We deserve to feel fully expressed and to design lives we love around what matters most to us. We have the right to explore the areas where we feel stuck and imagine what’s possible.
By acknowledging and addressing the places in our lives where we don’t feel free, we can start to make changes, however small, to live more authentically and freely.
Getting unstuck, embracing the power of what’s possible and beginning to make choices that will move us towards greater freedom is hard. Yet, one small step at a time will lead you there; to a place of new found liberation.
So, what does freedom mean to you? Where in your life do you seek more freedom? Reflect, explore, and take steps toward living a life where you feel truly free.
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