How Free Do You Really Think You Are?
- Jun 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 18, 2024
Written by: Alessandro Carli, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
What would our life be like if we didn't have freedom? Most of us were born in a period of our history where there was freedom... but it hasn't always been this way. And what are we doing with it, today, to make our lives and our world any better?
Especially in the Western world, freedom is a very elevated and strongly felt value, to the point that the top best of anything else comes only second to it.
Yet, how free are we really? And most important, how effectively are we using the freedom that we think we have to improve our lives, by giving it meaning and by leading the type of existence that we truly want?
Freedom was given to us, but it's not a given, far from it. In fact, until we don't understand what freedom is, how it works, and how it affects our daily life, it will just be an empty box inside which we run in circles aimlessly, thinking that we're free as we do so.
For starters, freedom is a state in which one operates, not a condition in which one lives. It cannot – and must not – depend on whatever happens outside, on the restraints that are being imposed upon us by someone or something: it's up to us to stay anchored to that state of freedom. Regardless.
That's much easier said than done, mostly because we don't understand the nature of freedom. In the best-case scenario, our freedom is extremely limited, as we'll see; and yet, we can still achieve a lot once we get it right.
Basically, our level of freedom is manifested in three different ways: by the way we act, the way we express ourselves, and the way we think. Let's take a closer look at this.
First level: Freedom to act
In fact, this is a "condition" that depends on the extent to which freedom is granted, or hindered, by external forces, namely the government (through laws, regulations, etc.), nature (major catastrophes, health, etc.), social conditions (financial or social status, education, etc.), and so on. Any impediment or obstacle at this level is very easy to identify because it creates discomfort and even pain: in other words, you can't miss it.
Second level: Freedom to express oneself
If low self-esteem gets in the way, our freedom to speak out, to express our true feelings and emotions, our ideas/opinions, our dreams, our qualities, our potential, etc. would be seriously compromised. Inner conflicts and submission would prevail over any attempt to acquire more freedom. Because these blocks are less evident than at the first level, there's a higher tendency to blame others for our misery.
Third level: Freedom to think
This is by far the most oppressive level because it impairs our freedom at the very root level, that of thought. Here's where our paradigms are formed, where our needs and desires are processed, where our view of the world is created, and where our victim mentality is nurtured. At this level, we feel no external constraints, leading us to believe that we are free-thinkers, while it's precisely where external conditioning sets in, and biases are developed.
On top of it all, consider this: physically, emotionally, and mentally (and I would also add spiritually), we are the product of our genes, our upbringing, our education, our experiences, the people we meet, and the situations we deal with: how really free can all these factors allow us to be? And, most important, how free are we to do something about it? Right: very little.
Not all hope is lost, however... far from it.
The very first thing to do is develop a strong awareness about this condition: the sooner we realize that we're not free, the freer (it's the very first step towards TRUE freedom) we are to do something about it.
Consider this: we're all social animals, which means that we're all interdependent, and we, therefore, all influence each other at a very deep level without realizing it, and because we really can't think, feel or act independently, the only choice we have is to decide which environment we want to be influenced by. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it's huge, and it's all the freedom we can actually exercise in our lives!
Do you want to become a strong and self-confident entrepreneur? Read all you can about successful entrepreneurs, attend meetings and seminars where you can meet them, read their life stories to get inspired, etc. Do you want to become a basketball champion? Who inspires you? Get all the information you can about him. Do you want to become a better parent? Where can you get good information on that? Do you want to become a good and caring person, dedicated to others, and hang around people like yourself? Join volunteering groups, etc.
It may not seem like a lot, but it is, and it works. As you read this, you may think that you're already doing this... somehow. Good! Don't stop and get more involved, actively participate in the activities promoted by these groups, and without realizing it, you'll gradually feel more fulfilled and appeased: it's really not nuclear science.
Freedom is neither something that is passed on to you, nor something that you conquer. It's something that you live by the day, by making the firm decision to be involved in what you most cherish and care for, with the support of an environment that shares your same desires and vision of life.
Alessandro Carli, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Canadian born, now living in Italy, Alessandro has been involved in personal growth since 1987, and made it his full-time profession for the past 22 years. He trained and coached people at a personal and professional level, helping them draw out more of their human potential, and at the same time having them become more aware of the laws, forces and dynamics that shape our reality. It's a specific study topic related to Systemic Intelligence which, besides working on self-improvement, allows to interact more effectively with our various environments. He wrote and published two books (in Italian) which roughly translate in "The 5 Principles of Corporate Success" and "Your Money And Your Life".
