How do you define freedom in your life? Is it doing what you want with your time? Does it mean socializing with whoever you want? Or is it avoiding the tyranny of others? Almost certainly, there are elements of all three of these ideas in your conception of it.
For some, freedom is the ability to explore the world, live nomadically, and learn about other cultures on this diverse planet of ours. For others, it's the chance to breathe the free air and get away from the government controls that dog our lives.
Freedom itself, though, is just part of the story. Being able to do what you want, when you want to is great, but loving freedom itself is arguably just as important. Here's why:
It Makes You More Open To Life's Uncertainties
People who love freedom tend to be more open to life's uncertainties and better able to bob and weave with the flow. They understand that freedom isn't free. But they're willing to trade some risk to become the masters of their destiny.
Many of us live in countries where social structures determine the exact course of our lives, often against our primal will. First, government schools must educate us and teach us how to be proper citizens. Next, we must find a job in a labor market and spend years of our lives doing work we find neither rewarding nor enjoyable. After that, we have to have a family, settle down, and generally commit ourselves to a life of toil, with only brief moments of levity. After that, we retire. You know the rest of the story.
But as gurus, like Mark of Freedom, point out, it doesn't have to be that way. All these systems are designed to reduce risk at the expense of freedom. But it doesn't come without a cost. The price of certainty is mediocrity.
Embracing freedom changes the dynamic. You know you're living life close to the edge, but you feel more alive when you do it. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to be your best self, which you don't when you play it safe and go through the motions, like everyone else.
It Helps You Accept Other People
Tyrants always want to control the thoughts and actions of the people around them. But freedom lovers accept their foibles and failings - and even embrace them as a beautiful part of the human experience. People with a freedom-loving mindset don't mind that others aren't perfect. They don't push for punitive laws to make sure that they live their lives according to some prescribed values. Instead, they take a live and let live attitude. Ultimately, nobody should decide how other people use their time. It's up to them.
It Makes You Feel Happier About Yourself
Finally, loving freedom makes you feel happier about yourself. You don't spend your time resenting others because they're richer or more successful than you are. Rather you take a relaxed approach to other people. If they're not hurting you, it doesn't matter what they're doing. You're not interested in their lives. You solely focus on improving yourself.
Candy TaiCANDY TAI is a wife to David and mom of 5 with a degree in Communications. She's a native Texan (Hook 'Em Horns!) who's been making her home in the Kansas City metro area for nearly 15 years. She loves being able to shuffle her kids from their various sports activities, piano lessons, and school activities. She enjoys fashion, beauty, reality TV, and moviegoing.
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