FREEDOM

Freedom, though often categorized, depicted, and viewed as one’s ability to to move without restriction, act without resistance or consequence, and live without bounds, is quite rather dependent upon one’s ability to conduct oneself with restraint, their ability to accurately and expediently evaluate/calculate risk vs. reward, as well as their ability to operate in and navigate a complex world with discipline and simplicity. It is all of these qualities that allow one to cultivate freedom as well as remain in its domain. The above attributes are a far cry from boasting the luster that one might otherwise associate with being free. However, they are the tools of liberation, and the foundation upon which this state of being is built. Restraining oneself can translate to thinking, planning, or measuring before acting and could even precede the minimization of one’s possessions and voluntarily obligations, which, more often than not, tend to tie down, limit, and/or impede one’s ability to move as they wish. Being efficient and proficient at weighing the potential outcomes of any given choice/decision often leads to better decision-making overall, which can lend itself to a life of tolerance, moderation, order, and moreover, a life less complicated. This, in turn, has the potential to liberate one further, or at the very least, make way for them to reduce worries and stresses, less of which generally translate to more clarity, enjoyment and potential for realizing fulfillment in life. People often wish ‘to be free as a bird’ or ‘to run free’ but are often unwilling to pay the prerequisite ‘costs’ which are associated with this ideal. You see, Liberty and Happiness have long defined the Dream Life; but, dreams dwell forever in the realm of fantasy, if not for pursuit.