Are you really FREE?

It is said that we in the US live in the home of the free but I have to say, that’s not what it looks like to me most days. I’m not talking about the Revolution where the United States claimed its Independence from England, I’m talking about your personal independence; your freedom.

Let’s first consider the common definitions of independence and freedom according to dictionary.com. 

independence: freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.

freedom: exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc; the power to determine action without restraint.

The freedom and independence we are talking about doesn’t mean that you have to throw out your entire life. It’s really about how you operate in and move through that life. It’s about who has the last word on what is right and good for you, as well as the responsibility for living with those decisions.

At the core of independence is freedom. Being independent is not about being insulated or isolated or disconnected from others. It is about the ability to  stand in your power, connected to your truth with the freedom to act on that truth. 

But the fact of the matter is that many of us are not experiencing freedom in our daily lives. Far too many of us don’t feel empowered enough to make changes in our lives. We are afraid to speak our truth out of fear of what someone else will think. We have been conditioned to believe that we can’t live the life we really want. 

There is a Zen story about a lion who was raised by sheep. His life was fine among the sheep – nothing to complain about. Then one day an old lion comes upon him and takes him to a pond. There he shows our sheep/lion his reflection. For the very first time our sheep/lion friend realizes he is not who he thought he was. For although he had been living as a sheep he was in fact a lion.

We can be a little (or a lot) like this lion when the image we have of ourselves comes not from our own direct experience of ourselves but more from outside opinions or circumstances. We are so conditioned to taking cues from outside of us rather than from inside that it is too easy to lose sight of our true reflection.

For the most part, society wants compliance not autonomy. While our country was originally founded on the concepts of independence and sovereignty, people who are absolutely dedicated to freedom are not that easy to control.

When I was creating Transform Your To-Do List, I came across a quote from Bob Dylan that has become one of my all time favorites…“A (wo)man is a success if he gets up in the morning & gets to bed at night, & in between he does what (s)he wants to.”

So, the question is “are you free?” Be honest with yourself. If you aren’t even really sure what that looks like, here are a few benchmarks to ponder:

• How “at choice” do you feel on a daily basis?
• What percentage of your day is filled with “have-to’s” and “should’s” versus “want-to’s” and “get-to’s?”
• How calm and centered do you feel?
• How in command of your emotions do you feel?
• Are you more frequently reacting or responding?
• How aligned is your daily life with what you think and say your priorities are?
• Do you feel that your work or daily activities are meaningful and are really bringing you fulfillment?
• How much are you living and leading your own life?
  
  
  

What I know is that the circumstances of your life don’t have anything to do with how free you feel. Even in the midst of seeming chaos you can remain at peace and be in command of your experience.

The ultimate feeling of freedom comes from being able to answer the question “who am I?” and “why am I here?” From knowing and living in alignment with my Soul, my Divine Coordinates®, so that I can fulfill my purpose in the very next room I walk into. And if I move out of that experience, I also know the exact path to take to return to center, to myself and to Soul.

True freedom is not about external circumstances but rather an internal alignment with who you really are and what you really want in your life along with your ability to act on and express that truth more often than not. Ready to experience true freedom inside of the life you already have?  

Wishing you all the freedom, independence and sovereignty that is your birthright.

Since 2011, courageous men and women around the world have chosen Divine Navigation and committed to the extraordinary and transformative experience of Aligning with their Soul – through their Divine Coordinates. We invite you to also explore the journey of living your Divine Purpose.