The Idea of Freedom

 Lately I have been thinking a lot about what freedom is.  Forced radical change will do that to you.  In a simple form, freedom is the ability to choose.  You can choose your outfit, your employer, what kind of dog you have and what’s for dinner all within your means.  These are choices that you make every day, but there are limitations aren’t there?  Your location, finances, physical abilities ext all create a ceiling for your choices.  For example, someone making 40K a year isn’t likely to take a yearly vacation in the south of France.  

When thinking about this topic, my thoughts drifted to the pie in the sky and what could be.  Because as a red personality and a Sagittarius, the best possible outcome is always the end game for me.  Go big or take your sorry ass home. So, the, ‘what could be’s’ also got me questioning not only what are these limitations but why are these limitations in place and are they true limits or something that we only think is there?

Let’s imagine a child at the dinner table who has to clear his plate before getting up.  After years of this conditioning the child is now a grown adult and still finishes his plate regardless of if the food is enjoyable or not.  The adult person doing this has learned that clearing the plate shows respect, is polite ect.  The plate clearing has become something that is done in exchange for a seat at the don’t stir the pot table.  It’s a kind of social conditioning, rather than something you actually WANT to do.  No one wants to finish all the food every single time, and you shouldn’t.  You can do what is best for you even if it makes someone else uncomfortable, upset, or confused.  

These social barriers are not requirements, not rules and not expectations.  They are simply barriers, and do you know what you should do with a barrier?  Blow right through it with reckless abandon if the thing you want is on the other side.  That, my friends, is what I’m here to  talk about.  How barriers can make you feel like you have to do a thing, when truly, YOU DO NOT.  The only thing you need to do, it is the thing that suits you.  That is what freedom, when examined more closely, truly looks like. The freedom to say no to the standards that your friends, family and society place upon all of us.

My own ideas of what is important have changed since I removed society from my to do list.  Here are a few topics and how I previously identified with them.

Previous perceptions were:

Make enough money to afford nice things.

Don’t depend on a significant other or family member for my basic needs.

Arming myself with information to avoid being blindsided.

Achieving the American dream.

But naturally I take things to the rebel extremist level, and the topic of freedom is no expectation.

When I remove societal standards and truly behave in a way that is best for me, and these topics start to look like this.

I don't need nice things to prove my status.  Status is a false sense of security, and approval of strangers and acquaintances is unnecessary.

Not having a spouse or children, and choosing to be single.  This is a choice, rather than circumstance.

Choosing to not be burned or worse, debilitated by debt.  I am living my life, yes, but I choose to decline nights out at the bar or vacations with friends, not because I don’t enjoy the experience, but because my financial security is my priority.

Not using a home as an asset building tool. I will not not participate in the social standard for wealth building.  I have done the math and know that home owner is not a title that serves my situation.

Truly loving yourself in a way that protects you from people or processes that do not have your best interests as the top priority.  I will look good, be free, do me and have fun and I will NEVER apologize for it.

Only you are going to fight for you.  The more I go through, the more fear is stripped away and I see everything as a critical thinking exercise.  What will literally get ME the best result, regardless of effort, discomfort or the very powerful opinion of others.

SO what does this look like in practice?

I will trade relationships where I am disrespected to gain material things or experiences for a simple peaceful life that I can support alone.  I can not be bought.

Converted home owner for image and wealth building, to happy stress free renter.  I will successfully build my wealth via other avenues.

Trading drunken nights and eating out for green juice and a barbell because although being the non-drinker earns you less invites, I value the way I look, feel and function over the opinion of anyone other than my own.

Shouldn’t the most important opinion to you be your own?  What do you think of yourself and why?  What can you achieve?  If you loved yourself, and expressed it as truly putting yourself first then wouldn’t your financial freedom, physical health, your inner peace and professional accomplishment supersede any peanut gallery commentary?  Next time you are faced with a choice, ask yourself this.  If no one aside from you knew about the decision you were about to make, what would YOU do?  What do YOU want?