"Freud tells us to blame our parents for all the shortcomings of our life, Marx tells us to blame the upper class of our society. But the only one to blame is oneself." — Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

This powerful quote by Joseph Campbell touches on the perception of a lack of freedom. It prompts us to ask: Is freedom truly a human condition, or is it simply a perception? These thoughts often arise within the context of societal systems and economic constraints. However, if you step outside these systems, like moving to a deserted island or out into the country, you are removed from these limiting structures. Therefore, the first step toward awareness of this system is acknowledgment.

Awareness and Self-Observation

Vernon Howard, in The Power of Your Supermind, tells us: "Encourage yourself by remembering that any detection of negativity within you is a positive act, not a negative one. Awareness of your weakness and confusion makes you strong because conscious awareness is the bright light that destroys the darkness of negativity. Honest self-observation dissolves pains and pressures that formerly did their dreadful work in the darkness of unawareness. This is so important that I urge you to memorize and reflect upon the following summary: Detection of inner negativity is not a negative act, but a courageously positive act that makes you a new person."

This echoes the teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz in The Four Agreements: "The first step toward personal freedom is awareness. We need to be aware that we are not free in order to be free. We need to be aware of what the problem is in order to solve the problem."

Framing Our Thinking

To drive our behaviors toward the path of freedom, we need to frame our thinking. Viktor Frankl, a leading psychiatrist before World War II who experienced the horrors of the concentration camps, shared his wisdom with the world through Logotherapy. In Man's Search for Meaning, he states: "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."

Creating this space allows us to create the conditions for freedom. These conditions exist when we are at peace. To create a space of peace, we must regulate our ancient brain by meeting the conditions or needs defined by SCARF: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness, as per the NeuroLeadership Institute.

The Felt Experience of Freedom

Freedom is a sought-after condition, but ultimately, it is a felt experience. We have the power to influence our thoughts and emotions through our actions. Viktor Frankl reminds us: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way."

He also poignantly states: "Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible."

Conclusion

Freedom is both a perception and a reality that we can cultivate through awareness, self-observation, and intentional action. By acknowledging our constraints, framing our thoughts, and creating the right conditions, we can truly experience the profound sense of freedom that lies within our grasp.

References:



• Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth
• Vernon Howard, The Power of Your Supermind
• Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements
• Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
• NeuroLeadership Institute on SCARF