What Freedom Means to Me
By Keith A. Johnson
I often ask people their definition of “Freedom” and some have said, “To do what I want, when I want,” but I quickly point out that if that is what Freedom is, “then I can sleep with their wife, when I want.” After that shocking revelation, we always stop and rethink what “Freedom” really means.
(true freedom comes from knowing the truth about God and
experienced by the workings of the Holy Spirit)
To
me “Freedom” is: (John
1)
Not being
afraid to die; which frees me from ever having to yield to
force, fear, intimidation, and manipulation, which allows me to live for
integrity and the principle of love, instead of the principle of pride (the
principle of the thing).
2)
Having a clear
conscience, so regrets, guilt, and shame are unable to hold me captive to my
past (to defuse the rage inside)—so I can live (act, not react) in the here and
now.
3)
To not be
afraid of the truth, along with the willingness and honesty to admit when I am
wrong or I don’t know (to face and conquer my fears—knowing God will be there
with me).
4)
To be free of
all “pity parties” – knowing “all things work together for good”
5)
To not be
afraid of any consequences that may come from the choices that I make (or the
choices of others) and the ability to take ownership of my decisions without
having to blame anybody.
6)
To do right,
because it is right, without any external rewards or punishments.
7)
To realize
that I am only entitled to whatever anybody is able and willing to give.
8)
To be free of
any and all inferiority and superiority complexes.
9)
To be free of
hatred and prejudices that need to victimize others in thought, word, or deed—to
inflate my fragile self-image.
10) To be free from
having the need for others to like me, but willing to like and even love others—regardless
whether it comes back or not.
11) To give gifts or to
assist others without expecting anything in return (disinterested benevolence).
12) To be free from
obligations and expectations – in any and all relationships.
13) To respect another
person’s right to be wrong, without trying to clone them into my image. To also provide them with a safe place in the
relationship to heal and mature.
14) To be free from
superficiality and the opinions of others.
15) To be me, without any
masks – while being an all-weather, non-judgmental friend.
16) To realize that my
freedom ends where the other person’s freedom begins.
17) To be more concerned
with the rights of others’ than my own.
18) To willingly be
involved in relationships without any ulterior motives.
19) To really and
sincerely care about others more than myself.
20) To be free of
jealousy and the need to compete with or control others.
21) To allow anybody and
everybody into my inner-circle of intimacy.
22) To try – without fear
of failing, criticism, or rejection.
23) To realize that I
have only one life to live and I cannot nor do I have the right to try to think
for or to live anybody else’s life for them.
24) To be free to laugh
at myself (along with others)—without embarrassment.
25) To realize that the
only control that I have involves my “choices” and my choices—only! I must learn to be flexible at all times—without
allowing external stimuli to affect my peace of mind.
26) To be humble enough
to realize that education, money, or positions of authority -- never gives me
the right to abuse, neglect, avoid or mistreat anybody (verbally or
physically).
27) To mentally allow the
truth to resolve a problem, without needing any other person to admit that they
were wrong or needing an apology.
28) To be free from
needing anybody else’s affirmation or love, because when I drink from the Source,
my “cup runneth over.”
29) To be free from
having or needing to climb the world’s social ladder.
30) To accept myself
where I am, while continuing to grow (aware I can never become complacent).
31) To wear my heart on
my sleeve—without being “vulnerable.”