Upleveling Freedom
Since a very young age, freedom has been the most important value in my life. At that age, I didn’t have the ability to contextualize or fully understand what freedom meant to me. Despite lacking an intellectual grasp of the concept, I sensed something was off in how I was growing up. I loved many activities and had various talents, but the rigidity of the social systems around me prevented me from expressing and enhancing them. I felt caged. Later in life, I realized that all I was seeking was the freedom to express those parts of myself.
Writing about freedom isn't easy, as it’s a complex concept. We each have the freedom to define it for ourselves, and the metrics for measuring freedom can vary from person to person. How can we measure freedom? This is very personal, but I will share the perspective I have acquired through my life experiences. There are different levels of freedom, from the most superficial, like freedom of speech, to the most existential, like freedom from the mind. In between, we can talk about the intrinsic freedom ingrained in every dimension of our lives.
Common types of freedom in our culture include freedom of speech, financial freedom, and religious freedom. However, I'd like to discuss other types of freedom. When you look at someone you perceive as free, what qualities do you see in that person? I once heard a quote that resonated with me: “A free person is someone who can do what they want, with whom they want, wherever and whenever they want.” This powerful quote invites introspection about our own levels of freedom. Think about these aspects in your own life:
Are you able to do the things you truly want to do? Do you have the freedom to surf, play golf, climb mountains, paint, or pursue other passions as much as you’d like? Do you have the ability to constantly engage in activities and projects that bring passion to your life?
Can you spend time with your loved ones as much as you want? Do you have the freedoms that allow you to fulfill this desire? Can you spend ample time with your children, spouse, and friends? Can you mix freedom (1) with this one and do the things you love with the people you love?
Do you have geographical freedom? Can you choose places in the world that suit your preferences for weather, activities, and culture? Do you have the ability to live year-round in your ideal environment, such as staying in summer all year if you dislike winter?
These questions may be triggering for some, producing discomfort. You might think this is unrealistic or wonder what world I live in to believe this level of freedom is possible. This mindset is precisely what keeps you from evolving your levels of freedom. The previous questions about freedom are superficial, and the answers can come from a shallow outlook on life. Achieving this level of freedom requires deep work on yourself to even grasp the possibility.
Our belief systems, our need to belong, our insecurities, and our past are crucial elements in attaining a life full of freedom. These inner workings are the foundation for achieving external freedoms like financial freedom and geographical freedom. The subconscious behaviors and dynamics that shape our lives must be understood and addressed. Our external reality, our external freedom, is a manifestation of these internal states.
The first and most crucial step is opening your mind to the possibility of achieving such freedom. This is where the road to freedom truly starts. Once this initial step is taken, the rest can flow effortlessly. Our external reality, our external freedom, is a manifestation of our belief systems, daily practices, routines, mental, physical, and spiritual health, and our willingness to learn from life beyond formal education.
It isn't an easy process, but the more we delve into it and start discovering all the beliefs that have kept us limited and start making changes, the more our external reality and levels of freedom begin to increase as a side effect.
The search for freedom can be done on many levels, from superficial to existential. The ultimate freedom is freedom from the mind itself—freedom from concepts and labels. Achieving this level of freedom leads to ultimate fulfillment and harmony. This can be attained through techniques like meditation, allowing us to avoid being controlled by obsessive thoughts or getting lost in mental projections. While living constantly in this state may be unrealistic, experiencing this inner freedom momentarily is a goal worth pursuing.
By blending these different aspects of freedom, you can create the ultimate freedom for yourself. There is no right answer for achieving ultimate freedom; it’s personal and something each of us must explore. The crucial element is the passion and commitment to explore what true freedom means to us and to take deliberate action towards achieving greater levels of freedom, regardless of what that might look like for you.
Much love,
Matias