U, Me and Freedom.

The greatest lie in history is believing that freedom isn't free...it is and always will be. However, dealing with others, Covid-19, stress and a new world of human online interaction can feel like a prison that strips you from your freedom. Even if you do not feel the pressure of lost freedom, every day occurrences, relationships and even children can be a challenge to your freedom. Do not let these external pressures break you into submission but allow them to be a guide to your eventual liberation.

You can only be free if you "feel" free, to start feeling this all you have to do is write out "I am free". This may seem quite trivial, but it is a vital process to initiate freedom. Once you have written it begin to act it out as if you were on a stage, and you are reading a script. Even if you cannot believe the statement, act as if you were free. Repeat this daily until you are capable of adding emotion to the statement. This allows you to be in a mindset of "freedom" (whatever freedom means to you) every day, even for just a minute.

Repetition of mindset becomes behavior. This means that the mindset you are in most of the time becomes the default for you. It is very rare that an athlete quits the sport they like and have played all of their life. A football players mindset is forever revolving around football, so improvement in football is the result of that mental loop. Once you get the mindset/feeling right it is time to codify your statement.

Codifying a statement can mean many things. You can transform the mantra "I am free" into a jingle, hand sign, symbol or any other code you find appeals to you. Once it is codified to your preference, hang it on a wall, post it on social media (if you are comfortable) or even set it as your phone lock screen. All you need to do is keep it around you to remind you of this new mind state.

After mindset and image are both stabilized physical action is required. Start every day with looking at or reciting your codified statement. Then begin to act free. Do what you need to in order to accomplish this new-found freedom. Go on a walk, travel to that part of town you've always wanted to see, take that needed vacation. Remember this is your life and whatever you choose to do with it is the right path. Experience is all that matter here and now.

"Acting free" can sometimes be a lot to handle, you might have questions as to what to say, how to act etc... However the only thing that is stopping you is you. You choose what to say to whom you wish to say it. You choose how to respond to people you encounter in your everyday life. All that I suggest is that you use your brain and don't do anything rash. If in doubt the golden rule can never lead you astray.

If you do run into some pitfalls know that freedom has a dangerously self reliant nature and I hope you are willing to gladly learn from any life experience so that you can continue to be free. Another incident that may occur is what I like to call "freedom fatigue". This is the mindset of freedom on overdrive, you might experience burnout, overindulgence and opportunity clutter. Remember to take freedom as a responsibility as well as a necessity.

What if someone attempts to challenge your freedom or is continuing to knock you down about how you live your new found lifestyle? This is one of the biggest keys to being free, it is that if you are free you are open to enemies. You must use their hate as fuel to keep your current path! Do not falter, do not break. If the person in question is actually trying to give you considerate criticism then you should heed their words. Other than appropriate suggestions everything is a moot point.

Lastly, never forget who you are and who you were. The new you and the old you are one in the same but the difference is the old you will never see what the new you experienced. Stay You! Stay True! Stay Free!