“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” says Charlotte Brontë in Jane Eyre.
This piece explores what freedom means to those not “ensnared.” The kind that the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines as “the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.”
Being able to choose, make our own choices is freedom.
The words “free,” ‘freedom’, and ‘free choice’ are often thrown around loosely – like they can stand alone. But the truth is, ‘free’ and ‘freedom’ are not stand-alone words or ideals.
Living in freedom means we have the freedom to make our own choices. While we have the freedom to choose, we are not free from the consequences of our choices.
Freedom is linked intimately to the need to explore and understand consequences of our choices.
Freedom is also linked to the intimate need to be able to take responsibility for the consequences of our choices. And as we all know, consequences have long-term impact, good or bad.
I’m often confronted with a dangerous trend I see today that says freedom is an individual’s right minus the need for thinking through responsibilities or consequences. “I know what I want and I am free to choose this lifestyle! I don’t care what others think,” said someone to me recently, failing to see or accept the devastating consequences her ‘free’ choice would have on her family.
Are we free to choose things that might hurt those around us? Yes, we are! The questions is: how much are we willing to sacrifice when we make that choice? Are we aware of what that choice will do to us, to those around us, of what the long-term implications are?
Which brings up another thought – wisdom is an irreplacable part of the equation (am I choosing wisely?) as should be love (does my choice show love for the ones it will impact?). Freedom needs to be governed by wisdom and love.
‘Free choice’ and ‘freedom’ are not stand-alone words or ideals. Freedom is deeply linked, irrevocally meshed together with the other words in the equation –
Freedom + wisdom and love + understanding consequences + taking responsibility = a good thing
Freedom is often portrayed in the movies, in inspirational posters, in writing as this wonderful vacuum we can jump into and lose ourselves in bliss.
The reality is this: freedom is a gift that asks if we are willing to count the cost, exercise wisdom in decision-making, care deeply about how our choices will affect those around us, take the time to think through consequences, and take full responsibility for our free choices and actions.
Freedom is a choice – choose wisely and intentionally!
~shini abraham, ©2015, duco divina – contemplative doodling
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