Freedom.

I want to talk about freedom today.

I used to believe freedom was doing what I wanted, when I wanted.

On reflection, in doing what I want, when I want, am I not falling victim to old habits, familiar patterns, and conditioning?

Am I truly making a conscious choice - or simply doing what I’ve always done, or what those around me have told me I should do?

It reminds me of a quote by Viktor Frankl:

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

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As we become more aware and conscious, we begin to notice that space. We observe the impulse, the desire, and we are able to pause. We respond instead of react. We start to choose what we’ll do, rather than letting familiar patterns take over.

And I don’t see this as a switch either.

It’s a process.

Learning about ourselves.

How we react to certain situations, certain conditions.

Do I tend to avoid discomfort?
Am I exercising my freedom if I do so?
What way can I respond to this situation that aligns with my growth? With what I truly want - despite the discomfort?

Am I acting out of choice, or out of habit?

Because if we continue to repeat the same things, we’ll get the same results. Great if they move us in the direction we want. Perhaps not so if they don’t.

It’s useful to remember that these habits are not “faults”. They don’t need to be judged.

The important action is to observe what we’re doing out of habit with curiosity - and to remember that these habits once served a purpose, that they were adaptations to our circumstances.

And to remember that we can respond in a new way.

A way that perhaps aligns with our growth now.