The Need For Freedom

Introduction:

Welcome my friend,

It's good to have arrived the fifth (5th) Friday of the month here with you as we wrap up August with this conversation.

Indeed, it's not all the months that allow us up to five (5) weekends, so it's safe to say that we've been seeing each other a lot lately.

Which in fact is a good thing since we can spend more time together discussing wisdom and truth, in a way that the love behind it is felt.

Here, we're one because we're the same people with the same struggles trying our best to be our best, by constantly learning and unlearning the good and not so good things accordingly.

This is why we hangout.

So that through our time here we can encourage each other to live uniquely in a world that is constantly looking to ridicule us for refusing to conform to its standards, lifestyle and unending trends.

We spend this time together so that we can remind ourselves that we've got each other as we continue to journey through life one day after another.

Thanks for always showing up my friend.

Discussion:

The reality of life is that the number of folks in handcuffs and chains or confined in some place beyond daylight, is only a little fraction when compared to the total number of folks in actual bondage.

This is because many of us are slaves to one thing or the other.

Truth is, as long as something has us under control so that we can't show moderation or restraint, we've assumed the position of captivity with it.

This means that we have a responsibility to break free from such things because like chains they bound us, causing us to stagnate in the journey of life because no one goes flying at full speed when their limbs are tied.

For the purpose of our discussion, we'd mention some of them in no particular categories or order, but with simple explanations as to how they bound us.

They include;

▪︎ Poverty

When we lack basic things, life is reduced to mere survival.

When a man does not have the financial capacity to push back, folks will look for ways to trample on his dignity.

Yet the good news is that no one is coming to save him because he can save himself.

Through hard work, determination and perseverance we make up for our lack of resources with our resourcefulness.

For sure it won't be overnight and would even be more difficult if we're lower down the ladder, but it's possible.

▪︎ Unhealthy Relationships

Obsession isn't love and being possessive of a person to the point that they can't interact with other people is an overwhelming kind of bondage for all parties involved.

Everyone deserves a life outside of their relationship where they can network with others, learn from them or even do business.

Toxic relationships are a different kind of bondage because being stuck in a place with no love and happiness is depressing and having company but feeling lonely because you're neither heard nor seen is drowning.

▪︎ Wrong Ideologies 

To live with certain limiting beliefs about life is a bondage that fills us with the thought that our dreams are invalid.

To thrive, we have to live with a mindset of abundance and possibilities, believing that we're deserving of every good thing that comes our way rather than try to shy away.

Until we do this, we'd continue to unintentionally jeopardize good things because somehow we feel unprepared to receive it or afraid to keep it.

When we hold on to other people's perception of us from their lens of belittlement and mockery, we accept a version of ourselves that's untrue because we're indeed worthy.

It's this sense of enough that allows us to treat ourselves like works in progress, intentionally doing the inner work.

▪︎ Our Desires

A greedy man is disloyal because he'd sacrifice everything else for a bigger bag.

When we struggle to keep business partnerships because “we don't want to be cheated” does it really mean everyone is trying to take advantage of us?

Or are we just being greedy and unreasonable?

It's always good to pause and rethink.

When we're never satisfied with what we have, we put ourselves in a position to be unhappy and jealous of others even if they have less, simply because we have eyes on theirs.

▪︎ Our Emotions

Pride and anger go hand in hand as we look to make an impression on others as if to lay a marker.

Some people in one strike of anger have ruined their lives bearing heavy long term consequences for their few seconds of thoughtless actions.

All our feelings are valid but we don't have to be slaves to them.

It's indeed irresponsible of us to say; “that's just how I am” without making the conscious effort to work on aspects of us that clearly hold us back.

■ What Freedom Isn't

Having seen some of the things we'd like to set ourselves free from, it's important for us to understand what being free truly entails.

For instance, in this era of social media where we're exposed to lots of shiny lifestyles many people have become caught by the illusion that life is a bed of roses.

Many people with very moderate and comfortable living are no longer content with what they have because they're craving the lifestyle of a celebrity or showbiz entertainer.

This is unwise.

Another instance of what freedom shouldn't be, is using our position to oppress subordinates because some higher authority has done or is doing the same to us.

When we do this, we reduce ourselves to hypocrites complaining about the same thing that we are.

The third and final instance of what freedom isn't for the purpose of this discussion is, being rude and mean to others because we want to “say it as it is”. 

Freedom of speech and expression doesn't mean we should be inconsiderate and selfish with little care about how our utterances hurt those around us.

■ What Freedom Is

To be able to choose what to do and who to work with or work for is a kind of freedom that is earned when we stick to our principles without compromise on negotiation tables overtime.

Once others know where we draw the line they begin to refrain from pricing our integrity or trying to entice us with gifts to persuade us into their bidding.

Indeed, true freedom is the confidence to be ourselves boldly and courageously, exhibiting traits of excellence wherever we find ourselves because we're comfortable in our skin; and not intimidated by others.

When we show self confidence, it means we possess the kind of freedom that allows us to believe we're worthy of greatness long before we put in the work to make it come through.

■ The Path To Freedom

Freedom is a journey of self discipline, self development and selflessness.

No one worked their way out of poverty without dedication and commitment through discipline and no one successfully lost weight without the discipline to exercise and stick to a suitable diet.

What both show is how true freedom begins from self control.

Then there's self development.

Which is basically the growth and progress we experience as we intentionally work on ourselves daily; learning and improving.

This is how we add more value to our lives, moving from novice to acquiring high paying skills that can set us up for financial freedom.

Most importantly, freedom is a journey of selflessness as we rise above pride by simply seeing ourselves as servants of God created to use the talents He's blessed us with, to serve those around us.

Interestingly, this also gives us the added benefit of setting us free from their validation and acceptance since we primarily focus on doing what pleases our master; God.

Summary:

Everyone needs to be free because life is a journey and it's quite difficult traveling the distance as fast as we could when we're bound in chains.

This is why we have a responsibility to identify some of these chains specifically in our own lives, especially those of them we didn't mention.

You know these things my friend.

Freedom!

Master Apprentice.

www.x.com/truekingmaker