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Freedom is such a powerful word, yet do we really know what it means? For years freedom was tied to the concept of slavery... having the right to have no one 'own' you. In Civil Rights, freedom meant being able to be considered equal to all others regardless of race, color, or gender. Then as the women's movement got into swing, freedom also included the right of women to make their own choices, to have the freedom to choose a life other than that of wife and mother.

In the United States of America's Bill of Rights, freedom is spoken of as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly... Freedom is "guaranteed" to be one of our basic rights.

Yet are we really free? Are we free to choose our course of action? Are we free to really express ourselves? To answer that we truly need to look within ourselves. For centuries the concept of freedom was related to freedom from others... to the thought that 'others' were doing it to us, that our freedom was taken away from us by others outside of ourselves... and thus that only others could restore freedom to us.

Who Holds the Key to Your Freedom?

But think about it...Who really holds the key to your freedom? You do. We have the ultimate choice of whether to be independent of influence and manipulation. It may not always be an easy choice. Sometimes the consequence of choosing freedom can be harsh (as in the case of slaves choosing to run away in order to attain freedom).

Just as "happiness is an inside job", freedom is an inside job as well. No one has the power to remove our freedom, just as no one has the power to make you happy or unhappy. Ultimately we always make the choice as to whether we will "let" others "take" our freedom. The choice resides within each and every one of us. This was eloquently demonstrated in Roberto Benigni's touching movie "Life is Beautiful". Even in the midst of a Nazi concentration camp, the character portrayed by Benigni retained his freedom, both in action and in soul.

Freedom From Fear

So what is freedom? What is it that we need to be free from? It is said that there are only two emotions — love and fear. Looking at it from that perspective, then what we need to be free from is fear. This encompasses everything else. If you reflect on everything in your life that you feel is oppressing you, you will realize that what it lacks is love and what it reeks of is fear. The beliefs in injustice, in lack, in oppression, are all expressions of fear.

So the true path to freedom and independence is through letting go of fear and embracing the path of love. Once we are really coming from the heart in all our decisions and perceptions, then we are truly free. We then become independent of petty thoughts and fears. We become free from worry, doubt, resentments, and feeling that we have been unfairly treated. When we can elevate our thoughts out of the muck of fear, we see that we have truly been free all along. We simply needed to change our perception from one of lack and separation, to one of Oneness.

For some, this may seem to be a "Polyanna" way of perceiving the world... or an outdated "peace and love" statement from the sixties. Yet, if we look at our lives, we see that when we approach the people around us with mistrust and fear, we project an energy that then bounces back to us. When we approach someone with love and trust, then the energy bounces back at a higher vibration.

This is not to say that you will always get 100% loving returns. There are times when the person you face is in such a confused state and delving in the pits of anger and fear themselves, that the energy of love that may be coming from your heart will get distorted. Yet, true freedom is being detached from the returns or the results.

Freedom is choosing the action and the thought that you know is for the Highest Good and releasing the results to the Universe. Freedom is being able to detach yourself from letting others' actions and behavior rule your actions and behaviors. We are truly free when we are able to live not "in reaction" to others, but to truly make our decisions based on our own truth and vision.

Freedom and Restraints

We may, at times, be restricted in the physical world and find our physical freedom to be restrained, but no one but ourselves can restrain our spirit, our inner self. We always have the freedom to choose our thoughts and the energy that comes from us. We may at times choose anger, and that is fine, as long as we are choosing it consciously and not simply being goaded into it by the provocation of others. There are times when anger is justified -- not revenge, not abuse, not hatred -- but anger directed at an action that is unjust or unkind.

We have many choices to take each day -- from the moment we wake up to the moment we drift off into sleep at night. No one can dictate the choices we make internally. No one can "make us feel happy", no one can "make us blue", except when we give them permission to do so. That is our ultimate freedom -- the power to choose who we want to be at each moment of our existence. The choice is the power we have -- incorporating that choice into our actions at the moment is not always easy, but that choice is our freedom.

When we choose to come from a center of inner peace, love, and faith in the "rightness" of the Universe, then we project that energy and also attract it with our inner magnet. The more we clean up our own act and exercise our freedom to be, to think, to act as we choose (according to our Higher Self), then the more the world around us will change.

When we see that everyone is simply reflecting our own beliefs — including our fears and insecurities — we understand how to be free of the shackles we have placed on ourselves. We need to free ourselves from the fears that have taken up residence in our being. We need to release them to the Light of Love and affirm our Oneness with Divine Will and Divine Plan. We can "free up" ourselves from whatever is unlike Love and truly become free to express the Love and Joy that reside in our true Self. It's an action that we need to take again and again and again... each moment of our life presents us with another choice... freedom or slavery to fear and old attitudes. The choice is ours and that is our freedom!

Suggested Reading:

The Mindful Way through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life
by Susan M. Orsillo and Lizabeth Roemer.

About The Author

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity.

More articles by Marie T. Russell

Click here to read more articles by Marie T. Russell

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