Thursday, 11 July 2013

What is Freedom?


Freedom is one of the things you desire the most in life. If someone asked you what freedom is, you would probably say, "Well of course, freedom is doing what I want." But you need to figure out what you want first, before you can think about obtaining it. If you had all your prayers answered right now, would it make you happier? Or would you have more problems? For instance, you may want a lot of money. You've even figured out how you would spend it. But once you have it, it doesn't give you the satisfaction you expected from it. You life still feels empty and purposeless. You may want power, but "with great power comes great responsibility".

Freedom is not about getting everything you want. It's not about removing obstacles that are in your way. It's not about changing your circumstances. It's not about moving around in the world without boundaries or restrictions. Freedom is a lot more than that. Freedom is the ability to choose. It's the ability to decide every minute of your life what you're going to do next. And to be able to do this in accordance with who you truly are. If you know yourself and know what you really want, you will find it easy to make decisions that are in harmony with your true self. In my book "The Magic of Willpower", I say: "No day is wasted if you live it according to your own values and principles." If you commit yourself to a way of life that you've chosen, you will be content within yourself, even though it might not always be a bed of roses...

A commitment might look like the absence of freedom. But you give up certain things to gain something else, something bigger and more meaningful. This is what happens in a marriage, when two people commit themselves to each other. You shut the oven door and then you cook... But this is a choice that comes from the heart. Like following God or dedicating yourself to a cause that you're passionate about. Commitment looks a lot like bondage but it is the ultimate freedom.

With all my love,

Bella

Painting: "Seagulls in the Boat" by Maria Primachenko, 1965 (Wikipaintings)

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