PEBBLE
Freedom is the agency to choose how we want to be in relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
~Lama Rod Owen, shared by Kelly in Grantham, NH
BOULDER
People always assume that freedom consists in getting something desirable from the exterior world, when in fact it mostly consists of getting rid of something undesirable in the interior world.
~Vernon Howard, shared by Kim
PONDER
Well, time keeps racing along, and somehow we’ve arrived at the last day of June, which means the year is half-over and the 4th of July is just down the street! I often use the USA’s Independence Day as a time to ponder the idea of freedom, and I thought these quotes were nudging me to reflect on Internal Freedom.
Lately, I’ve been noticing how my schedule, my inboxes, and my to-do lists—while obviously shaped by external factors—are significantly internal concoctions. I either decide what goes in them, or at the very least I get to decide how to engage with them. There have been plenty of times when I’ve kept adding more and more to my plate…until I suddenly realize I’m feeling overwhelmed and resentful, trapped in a life that looks very different from the one I intended to create for myself.
Is it possible that reclaiming Internal Freedom begins with noticing the internal barriers—the self-imposed pressures—that quietly pile up and gradually leave us feeling constricted, drained of energy, and disconnected from our purpose?
None of this is to suggest that we can or should ignore the very real external barriers that limit our freedoms. Those are real, and they need to be continually recognized, challenged, and repaired if we want to build a sustainable sense of freedom for ourselves and those around us.
It’s just that this week I’m choosing to turn inward, to notice how my own restrictions—whether they’re self-imposed deadlines, unrealistic expectations, or endless lists—might be limiting my choices, my sense of control, and my ability to create a life that feels more like Freedom.
So….what small internal shift might help you reclaim a little more freedom this week?
Peace,
Paul