The Difficulty Of Freedom
The Unintended Consequences
In the US, many people Celebrate today as a Day of Freedom from Tyranny.
Now, if you go into the History of the US, there are Challenges that Exist, and some may say this is not accurate, or that it is a day about the "Possibility" of Freedom.
But Regardless of your Position on the History of the US...
It is the Idea of Freedom that I Find Interesting.
What is Freedom?
Well, it Depends on How You Choose to Define It.
We Generally Think of Freedom as the Ability to Choose for Ourselves.
But what Happens when Freedom is Unlimited?
Without Boundaries or Consequences?
If We Look at Our Track Record as Humans...
It is Bad.
If We Have Too Many Choices, We Fall Into Information or Choice Overload...
Essentially We Shut Down.
If We Shut Down Too Often...
Our Brains and Bodies begin to Decay.
Or If We Choose to Use Freedom toward Self-Interested Ends...
We Also tend to Discover Major Problems Occurring in Our Lives.
Addiction.
Trauma.
Sickness.
Overwhelming Debt.
Isolation and Lack of True Community.
All of these are Consequences of Freedom toward Self-Interested Ends...
Either Our Own Self-Interest or Caused by Others' Self-Interest.
Freedom in these Situations Cause Dis-Stress...
Further, they Ironically Destroy Our Freedom.
Is it Freedom to Live a Life in Decay?
To be Chained to Your Addictions?
To have Trauma Haunt You?
To Use Drugs and Chemicals to Momentarily Alleviate the Pain of Sickness, while also Making You Sicker?
To Never Own Anything because a Bank or Credit Company Truly Own Everything You've Purchased?
To be Alone with No One Standing Beside You?
None of these are Truly Freedom...
Yet are Consequences of Freedom.
This is the Difficulty of Freedom.
Just Because You Are Free or Have a Choice...
Does Not Mean You Will Choose What Truly Provides a Better Life.
Far More Often...
Our Choices Seem to Destroy Our Lives.
Sometimes, it Happens Slowly...
But the Consequences Often Become Permanent.
However, Freedom is a Better Path than Being Forced to Do Things Against Your Will.
We Consistently See Significantly Worse Damage Caused By This.
As Humans We Seem to Detest Forces of Oppression.
We Subconsciously Desire Freedom.
We Will Fight to Obtain that Freedom.
The Challenge Becomes Apparent However Once You "Have" That Freedom.
What Do You Do With Freedom?
I think it is this Question that Many People Do Not Think About.
On one hand, there are Many People who have Lacked Freedom, who Gain their Freedom and Use it to Become Oppressive.
A Vicious Cycle.
On another hand, there are Many People who have Freedom who Fail to Understand the Consequences of their Choices...
Freedom To Choose Does Not Mean Freedom From Consequences.
What I Often See In The World...
Is that Most People Do Not Understand The Long-Term Consequences of Their Choices...
Seemingly Insignificant Choices Which Create Worldwide Problems.
What You Choose To Watch...
What You Choose To Buy...
Even These Frequently Have Deep Consequences which We Unintentionally Cause.
If We Look at Our World Today Dominated by Techno-Tyrants, the Rot Economy, and Government Corruption...
These Exist because of Our Choices with Our Freedom.
Yes, "Our" Choices.
We Choose Convenience at Any Cost...
Including the Impact on Human Lives.
We Choose Mindless Entertainment...
Instead of Making a Difference.
We Choose the "Lesser of Two Evils"...
Instead of Rejecting Both and Looking for the Truly Good.
These have been the Results of What We Have Done, To Ourselves, With Our Freedom.
But...
It Does Not Have To Be This Way.
If We Think Of Freedom...
Not as the Ability to Do Anything...
But as the Ability to Always Seek what is Truly Better...
Not For "Me"...
But for "Us"...
We Can Change The World.
As Humans, We Thrive Not on Independence...
But on Interdependence.
It is Possible to Create a Better World.
If, However, We Continue on the Current Trajectory...
Our Freedom Will Simply Be A Path Toward Self-Selected Subjugation...
And We Will Only Be Able To Blame Ourselves.
As You Seek Freedom...
Keep All Of This In Mind.
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About the Creator
Dr. Cody Dakota Wooten, DFM, DHM, DAS (hc)
Multi-Award-Winning Sageship Coach, Daily Digital Writer (1,000+ Articles), Producer, TV Show Host, Podcaster & Speaker | Faith, Family, Freedom, Future | Categories: "Sageship" & "Legendary Leadership"
https://www.SeekingSageship.org/
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Comments (2)
Good article and something ive thought about having a lot of freedom at times and not knowing what to do with it. It actually seems people derive a lot of pleasure from giving up freedom, by joining sports clubs, jobs, clubs and other activities with other people that have particular ways of doing things. Most people have very fond memories of school, its more the barriers that are fun to play around not not having barriers. I actually heard this mentioned in a lex fridman podcast recently.
So all that truly matters is how we use the freedom to create a better world for everyone