What Is Freedom To You
What does it mean to be free and be you? Freedom means something different to each of us. And most of the time includes being able to afford freedom financially. Take the following examples:
To a young woman launching her post-college, career life, desperate for her first professional job. To her, job = free! She’ll be able to rent an apartment, live alone, and have control over her own money.
Work means money, and money means freedom.
It's just the opposite for a woman close to retirement. For her, wrapping up a life's work, to stop the “daily grind” = free! She will finally have the time to join that musical group, take up a hobby, write that novel, or go fishing.
No more work means time, and time means freedom.
Last year my good friend Bill Wicker passed away at age 94. Days before he died he gave me an awesome gift. He gave me his thoughts on what it was all about - what was important to him in this one life.
Bills takeaway from a life well-lived? The most important things are Friends, Freedom, and Beauty.
Part of his meaning was that designing a flexible work schedule as a musician and sax teacher meant he had He built a professional life that allowed him the freedom to be with friends and explore beauty above all else.
Personal control over work hours means time to experience beauty, friends, and freedom.
What do all three have in common? Pursuing their hearts' desire and hearing the voice of their soul. This is the essence of freedom.
How about you? Do you have the freedom to do what your heart and soul are calling you to do right now? Or is someone or something telling you what to do? Are you longing for more freedom? Or have you figured out how to pursue freedom and happiness throughout life? I hope it is that last one.
There are three great steps to claim your freedom. And once you have freedom, you can use these steps to keep it.
Know what freedom means to you right now. It changes throughout life and needs to be reassessed often.
Identify what is blocking you from freedom. It might be something you can leave behind or negotiate on. But the block might be something, or someone, that you love more than your freedom. If that's the case, then know that your freedom might be limited, but it is worth it.
Set up boundaries that protect you from others who encroach on your freedom. Not barbed wire fences and Keep Out signs. Something more gentle and collaborative, like conversations with people, so you understand where each other is coming from.
In the Empower Your Voice small group, we are giving freedom to our voices by looking at the stories we allow to define us, reframing them if they don't serve us, and guiding our voices and emotions in the present. This freedom is powerful! Sound interesting? You'll find more info under the Courses tab. It would be great to have you in class.
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I’m Nancy Bos, a vocologist, keynote speaker, and author. I help people empower their voice through reframing their stories.
I LOVE to speak to groups about the power of personal narratives. Visit my Speakers Page to learn more about me talking to your company or group. I’m proud to say others have described me as “very inspiring and entertaining.”
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Thank you!!
Nancy