Freedom is the decision of the mind. It does not mean devoid of chain or any other barrier. We cannot define a physical barrier as the curtailment of the total freedom of a person. It is an exterior burden that has no entrance to the self unless it is permitted. A prisoner can be a free person, and at the same time and an ordinary man can be a prisoner.
Actualization of freedom is a process in which all the aspects of a person work together: physical, mental, and spiritual level. It is an agreement between self and circumstances. The situation has nothing to do with the self because it is an exterior activity. But the self has something to do with the situation because it has superiority over the former. Neither situation nor any incident limits the freedom of mind. Ignorance of the capacity of mind makes a person be a prisoner of the situation.
Freedom is about more than picking which yogurt brand to purchase, where to go on vacation, or not being reluctant to communicate our musings. It's tied in with being consistent with ourselves in the way we carry on with our lives. A great deal of the time, we act and respond consequently without appropriately evaluating a circumstance. This brings up whether we have as much power over our activities as we may suspect.
MINDFULNESS OVER MATTER
It is possible to free ourselves from entrenched patterns of behavior. But to do this, we have to be aware of ourselves and our emotions. This is where mindfulness comes into play. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program, describes it as a deliberate, non-judgemental practice based on moment-to-moment awareness. It’s about recognizing how you’re feeling right now, such as, “I’m angry.” Nothing else has to happen. It’s all about perception. And surprisingly enough, anger tends to dissipate once it‘s acknowledged.
Freedom is the stage where there is no pressure, no fear, and no urge for protection.
A simple way to have freedom of mind is to 'TRUST YOUR FEELINGS.' Once our mind feels calmer, it is always good to recognize what is good for ourselves. No doubt this approach would take time but believe me, it will bring more freedom with it. So have patience and start trusting your feelings.
Another good approach for this might be taking control of your life. It will make you master your own thoughts. This again brings more freedom into our lives because it helps us become the person we actually want to be, not what others want us to be.
Free self is the outcome of proper guidance and right discernment. It can be obtained through constant effort and determination. Firmness is the characteristic of a liberated self who can stand straight in the midst of vain comments and rumors. It is possible to experience inner freedom within the confines of the four walls. Often freedom is interpreted in the wrong sense. Of course not, it is a choice to choose what is right for me. Indeed it is a chance to dream and do good for the welfare of the whole human family. None can resist our freedom because the hold is at our hand. Let us fly like a free birds and enjoy the freedom.
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