In construction:
We are crossing the boundaries here into philosophy, psychology, and managing one's life in order to experience more freedom and more fulfillment. This is a vital component, in my opinion, to the next higher level in life.
FREEDOM FROM WHAT?
From whatever ties you down and limits you!
What are examples of that?
Fear of undesired outcomes (attachment)
And the other items listed below
FREEDOM FROM BEING STUCK OR IN THE PAST
THE VALUE OF FREEDOM:
Frees up mind to think of more fulfilling, filling, satisfying, happier things.
Free sup time to do what will provide more for your benefit.
THE FREEDOMS WE SEEK
A key here is having a "context" for life, a way of viewing life philosophically (which includes a set of beliefs properly constructed in a way to hold life in a way that works). This is the biggest one, for without any excess in this, life is transformed into one very happy existence!
Freedom to do what you want and/or what is beneficial
Hopefully they are the same thing!
On the sister site www.live8020.com, we free up at least 40% of what we are doing, so that we can do that which we actually want and can benefit more greatly from.
Freedom from political restrictions
This topic will not be covered here, except for reminding you that you have a choice of which countries to be in and urging you to pick the one that is best for your freedom and being able to live the best life for you.
Freedom from threats
Here we're talking about staying away from actual threatening situations and people but also about knowing the difference between what is a threat and what actually isn't. (From the Fear section: Threats And Fear.)
We can eliminate virtually 100% of the pain and suffering "extras" we pile on in life. Then our experience of life is that of freedom in what we do and freedom from suffering - and life ceases being a struggle that we create with ourselves as the perpetrator. Ironically, we create the suffering by resisting reality, expecting more of people and the world than is the case, expecting more of ourselves - and judging, criticizing, getting angry about what occurs, feeling bad etc. all are indications that we've set ourselves up for suffering. See Acceptance and apply all the lessons!
WHAT WILL FREE YOU UP AND/OR NOT RESTRICT YOU?
Write down on a sheet of paper, where you feel restricted or not free, note how you are creating that and then write what would have you be free. Being free has no "reactiveness" in it and no "pushing away" from someone.
Actually:
Not having employees.
Delegating, once you learn how to do it effectively.
To be added to: Meanwhile, read the classic Harry Browne's How I Found Freedom In An Unfree World.
Psychologically:
Stopping trying to get one's needs met through others. Giving up the idea that you
have "needs" that are actually wants and preferences only.
YOU ALREADY ARE
Underneath it all, you are already free, and it is only you who chooses to pile things on the top of that, things that imprison you far more than the world could. Nelson Mandela was free even while in prison and most readers of this are not in prison yet they are not letting themselves have freedom. Ironically, people say they want freedom but their actions suggest they value those things that end up having one not be free - they insist on being right or trying to look good or trying to control someone else or get something else from someone else or not accept what has happened - all of which impose non-freedom upon oneself.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FREEDOM
Though seemingly these might be obviious, they should be brought out clearly so that one sees more value in freedom - indeed, so one sees that there is virtually no greater value than freedom.
One great benefit is that we are no longer the prisoner of our beliefs, of other people, and of circumstances having to be just right. The benefit of this in turn is that we no longer experience the ongoing angst and the emotional pain that we were needlessly inflicting upon ourselves. So, in a sense, that is the "removal of the negative", which removal is a big plus compared to where we were before.
The other is also immense: it frees up energy so that it is directly solely to what one truly wants. We are no longer engaged in seeking as a supposed want the idea of "avoding what we don't want". We choose to do things simply because we want to do them. And we are devoting massively greater amounts of energy toward what we truly want - which naturally results in getting alot more of what we want.
And one of the things that we master is the happiness skills, so that we truly do get what we want the most.
THE FREEDOM DECLARATION
"I am totally self-sufficient. I am powerful enough to create all the key essentials I want. I am independent. I am not dependent on anyone for life's basics and the basics of what will have me being happy. I do that which I can control and I do not depend on trying to control what I cannot have in my control.
I stay true to my values. I live authentically, without pretense and state my needs and assert my requests.
I am fearless, since I accept any outcome regardless, and I simply then just note it and decide what I will do next to get what I intend to get, but am never dependent on.
I accept reality, of who people are, of who I am, and of how the world is, simply acknowledging what is so and then proceeding to do that which I best would do. Things are as they should be and no better and I acknowledge that as simply what is so and I don't add any story or should to it. It is as it is. And I simply choose what is next and go do it."
Living this declaration would give you immense freedom.
THE RESOURCES:
How I Found Freedom In An Unfree World, Harry Brown - A classic, full of valuable thinking.
you can then commit your time to doing what you want.
The Power Of Inner Choice, Mary E. Allen - Though she has a little bit of spiritual type references in
the book it is largely very practical, drawing selectively from many disciplines, including some of
Tony Robbins workable materials, references in common with Landmark Education, and with some
of the other leading progressive and effective thinkers. She is a life coach, who I suspect would be
effective. People who have taken the Landmark Forum (recommended) will find good reinforcing
material and distinctions in this book.
