What’s your definition of freedom?

“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on an individual level. It’s got to happen inside first.” ~ Jim Morrison

Freedom. A singular word with numerous meanings. One could say the meaning of freedom is in the eye of the beholder. Freedom can come in various forms. Financial freedom. Freedom from a bad relationship. The freedom that comes with being in a great relationship. The freedom to travel wherever…whenever. Mental freedom from the opinion of others. Freedom from the expectations of others. The freedom to follow your heart wherever it takes you. Freedom to live life on your own terms. What does it mean to you?

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Freedom to me means all the above, which is why I separated from the military. My life was not my own. There were way too many people with way too much control over my life. For this reason, I made the decision to venture out into the civilian world. Being ill-prepared for my new life there were numerous financial setbacks I had to overcome. To say I struggled would be a huge understatement. Although my newfound freedom came with newfound challenges, I never regretted my decision. Why? Because I now had the freedom to choose the path that would lead me to where I wanted to be. Right or wrong, my decisions, and my mistakes, were mine to make. I took back my power. And through hard work, and the Grace of God, I created the life of my dreams.

“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” ~ Nelson Mandela

What are you doing to take back your power? Are you actively designing your life, or are you simply playing the hand you were dealt with no hope for improvement? You possess the ability to build the life you want to live. But you must keep in mind that freedom isn’t free. You must be willing to fight for it. What the battle entails will be determined by your definition of freedom. For this reason, self-analysis is extremely important. You need a clear understanding of what makes you feel happy & fulfilled. From there you can begin putting the pieces in place to bring your vision to fruition. Freedom requires effort. Effort requires a plan of action. A plan of action requires the clarity & insight necessary to determine your direction. You don’t have to succumb to living a mediocre existence. But it’s up to you. You only get one life. Live it to the fullest.

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