The Freedom Paradox

“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” - Victor Frankl

***

The idea of freedom is central to our human experience and psyche, perhaps like no other. ??

For centuries, freedom has been the ultimate ideal to live by or die for. The story of humanity is a quest for freedom.?

Yet, today when we have more freedom than ever, at least in the West, why is this not translating to more wellbeing? ?

The German sociologist Erich Fromm in his 1941 work Escape from Freedom, noted that there are two types of freedom:

First, there is “Freedom?from”, what he called “negative freedom”. Then there is “freedom?to”, what he called “positive freedom”. This binary frame is incredibly helpful to understand the “emotional dynamics” in our societies. [1]

Two Kinds of Freedom

Negative freedom is freedom?from?any external interference that prevents us from doing what we want, when we want to do it. It is the absence of obstacles or constraints to one’s own action. “I can do anything I desire”.

It is a sea of choices and possibilities.

By contrast,?“freedom to” (positive freedom)?is the ability to autonomously determine and achieve my goals. To be positively free is to be one’s own master, acting rationally and choosing responsibly.

Positive freedom is actually the freedom?to?control oneself. The ability to make our own choices with awareness and self-determination.

So, how does that relate to our own experience today?

Many philosophers have contemplated about the dark side of freedom. The philosopher?Soren Kierkegaard?wrote that “anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”

In a similar fashion, Barry Schwartz in The Paradox of Choice explains: “Too much freedom of choice can cause anxiety and exhaustion.? As opportunities are multiplying in a connected world, through social media and technology so is the fear of missing out. Our younger generation is the first to suffer from it”.

The Inner Freedom

The idea is that true freedom is fulfilled when we consciously and deliberately pursue positive freedom.

This is a path of self-development, self-cultivation, and self-mastery.? We are truly free not only when “we have options, or we can do whatever we like”, but when we lead lives with direction and purpose. Wilfully choosing our own “constraints” or response.

This positive freedom is an untouchable source of power. It can sustain us no matter the external circumstances, how dire or unpredictable.

?Imagine yourself in this journey. How this would look like??

?

Free The Mind: The Explorer

The starting point is to act like an explorer, someone who wants to re-discover the world, and see with new eyes.

You are endlessly curious. You search for what is true, question and examine everything. You challenge popular narratives and “beliefs”.

You open your mind, dropping the know-it-all, dogmatic attitude. This fuels your ingenuity – generating more possibilities at work in life.

Armed with more humility, you care less about proving you are right, asking “where could I be wrong”. You listen and absorb new ideas with enthusiasm. ?

Suddenly everything makes new sense…You develop a renewed clarity about who you really are, with an expanded perspective and sense of mission.

You are now a visionary and a realist, simultaneously.

Free The Heart: The Creator

But then you choose to go farther…To become a “creator”, who fearlessly brings your passion to create something that you deeply love. Something exceptional and beautiful– that comes from the deepest, most sincere part of your heart.

As a creator, you hear this voice inside you, your intuition- not afraid to touch you, surprise?you, guide you… You see “You” as an Artist, you feel the burning light of creativity inside you…? [2]?

And then, you offer your creative expression as a gift to the world – to your team, your clients, to anyone. You say “this is the best I can do, and this is my offering to you”.

What would be the truest, most beautiful and?honest thing that you can express today, through your work, your relationships and personal moments?

We live in times of disengagement and cynicism. The solution is not to “do the bare minimum” at work, or strive for some mediocre “balance”, but to re-discover the love for what we do, to express it, not block it. Not only is this the most liberating thing, but it’s the best antidote to burnout and anxiety.

Free The Spirit: The Alchemist

The ultimate freedom is when you find meaning and connect with the infinite. ?This spiritual journey opens up a whole new way of “seeing” and living life. [3]

Here, you become an “Alchemist”. You transform yourself and help others transform their world. Through your Spirit, you offer magical energy. A new story.

As a leader this is your “enlightenment moment”, which truly reveals your deepest, most sincere purpose to improve the world.

Your spiritual path to this “ultimate” freedom will be paved with seemingly paradoxical truths and a state of constant flow. ?Consider how:

Everything changes, nothing is permanent. Yet, there is continuity in the unbroken chain of life – the past, the present and the future. You are part of it all.

Choosing to do difficult, creative things is a liberating act for the soul. Pain brings peace. Discipline creates freedom.? Sacrifice clarifies purpose. Freedom is overcoming human limitations.

Choosing when to fight with ambition and when to surrender without force or controlling.?

Attracting life by accepting death itself – as a call to live life freely, fully, with joy and urgency.

Re-directing your ego-self to serve the needs of the world.

Integrating your shadow, and channelling this negative energy to your greatest accomplishments.

Keep moving. Experimenting. Creating new ideas, changing form and style in a fearless way [4]. Making every daily encounter an opportunity to infect others with your spirit. ?

Loving like the Sun. Constantly beaming light and warmth, as honest, pure, unconditional love with no expectation in return.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ***

True Freedom is an active way of living. It’s an attitude of actively seeking truth, beauty and goodness, in daily life. ?This is the real empowering Vision of what is possible, through daily action.

True freedom is a power that allows us to navigate the labyrinths of complexity in our modern society and to direct ourselves towards creating a better world.

It depends on us.

?

Notes

[1] The definitions of “negative” and “positive” freedom are abstractions, both types are essential. ??Charles Taylor, in his work What’s Wrong With Negative Liberty, Philosophy and the Human Sciences,?defines negative freedom as an “opportunity concept” as it gives us access to a range of desirable opportunities. On the other hand, positive freedom is an “exercise concept” because it’s about discriminating?between all possible opportunities, and exercising our options.?

[2] As Rick Rubin, creative director and writer of The Creative Act: A Way of Being, said: “We are born artists. And then society does it's best to beat it out of us”?

[3] Abraham Maslow called this self-actualising step “to become fully human”, whereas Carl Jung described it as the final stage of "individuation”.

[4] In their wonderful book The Path, Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh suggest that in the Chinese philosophy of the Daoism, focusing only on our “authentic selves”, and “our own truth” is a narrow way of understanding who we are. Instead, through interacting with others, we constantly change and realise our expanded potential.

?