DEFINITION

Freedom is a concept that holds immense personal value for many individuals. It can be defined as the ability to act, speak, think, or choose without hindrance or restraint. Essentially, freedom is the state of being able to make one’s own decisions and live according to one’s own values and beliefs.

RELEVANCE

In a social context, being free has various implications. Firstly, freedom allows individuals to express themselves and their opinions without fear of repercussion. This is essential for a healthy society, as it fosters open communication and the exchange of diverse ideas. Furthermore, freedom enables individuals to pursue their goals and dreams, leading to personal growth and fulfillment. It also allows for creativity and innovation to flourish, as people are free to explore new ideas and concepts without limitations.

However, freedom is not always easily attained. In order to truly be free, individuals must first identify and overcome the barriers that prevent them from living a life of autonomy and self-determination. This can be achieved through various means, such as self-reflection, education, and empowerment.

HOW TO BE

One way to be free is to cultivate a strong sense of self-awareness. By understanding one’s own values, beliefs, and desires, individuals can make informed decisions that align with their personal goals and aspirations. This self-awareness also enables individuals to identify and challenge societal norms and expectations that may be limiting their freedom.

Education is another key factor in achieving freedom. By acquiring knowledge and skills, individuals can empower themselves to make informed choices and take control of their own lives. Education also provides individuals with the tools to question authority and challenge oppressive structures that may be hindering their freedom.

Empowerment is essential in the pursuit of freedom. By advocating for one’s rights and standing up against injustice, individuals can reclaim their power and agency. This can be achieved through activism, community organizing, and political engagement. By working together with like-minded individuals, people can create positive change and fight for a more just and free society.

THOUGHTS

What means freedom? Is that a state or is it the sum of everything that is happening around us? Is it rather a process? And does it only exist in relation to others?

If you think about it, it is a weird concept. In German, we do have the saying to be free like a bird. But also a frog is free, or a deer. But the difference is probably, that the bird has the ability to fly away, and to get to places where we are not able to go. Therefore, one could indeed say, that freedom exists within the comparison to others or at least another situation.

Taken down to the situation one as a human is in, it might be the comparison to “being free” when in holidays versus not being free when at work. Therefore, it indeed seems to apply, that freedom is a mindset, it is the perception of boundaries that are being imposed on us. Of course, this is very much simplified and I do not want to start talking about real restrictions by a state or any other institution.

But the concept of freedom as being a choice of mind helps us to elevate pains. No matter the situation we are in; changing the perception to that, will make us happy. Our mind wants to be able to choose and why not giving him that freedom? Imagine, we had not the freedom of choosing whatever we want to eat, maybe there is only bread and butter. But isn’t it still a choice on how much butter we eat? Isn’t it a choice on how I eat the bread?

This goes way into detail now, but I guess you know what I mean. Freedom is a choice, it is a mindset and it is on us to train and to change our perspective on things. Let’s start to see our daily cages as places of opportunity and choice.