The Nature Of Freedom – Part 2

Note: As this subject needs a deeper explanation the article is broken down into three parts.
1. The first deals with the nature of natural freedom
2. The second with misconceptions about freedom
3. The third about how to experience freedom.

The Reality of Freedom.

The reality is that we are and always have been free to do what we haven chosen in each case. This is because in every moment we have made and are making decisions based on our needs, fears and programmings. We are never actually being suppressed by others. We are being suppressed by our needs, fears, beliefs, programmings and attachments. These are the forces that suppress us and cause us to make choices out of guilt or fear and then feel that we are not free and being suppressed.

We can be “forced” or “pressured” to do something we do not want to do, or not do something we want to do, only if we fear the possible consequences if we do not “comply”. We might fear being rejected, or losing someone’s love. Or perhaps losing our job or some source of income. We might fear reprisal from the others if we do not do what they want. Or we might feel that we are not good persons if we do not do what we are supposed to do.

In all of these cases, we have the freedom of choosing to loose their love, our job or risk being harmed, rather than do something we do not agree with or that does not coincide with our values, beliefs or needs. The fact that we chose to do otherwise is a “free choice”. We have “sacrificed our freedom” or “traded our freedom” in order to protect our self-worth, security or some other need. We could have chosen otherwise. In a way we are using others as much as they are using us. We are behaving in a way so as to get what we need or want or are addicted to from them. There is a mutual “barter” going on. We give them what they want in order to get what we want.

Christ and Socrates were order to stop teaching or die. They did not barter. They chose to continue to teach because they did not fear the consequences. They chose death over restriction. We too have this type of freedom once we eliminate our various fears and other emotions that cause us to actually “suppress ourselves.”

An important result of the realization that we are free to not do what the powers around us (parents, spouse, children, profession society, religions, government) are dictating is the ability then to choose to do what we are being asked out of love and understanding rather than out of fear.

There are two possible lessons when we feel an inner conflict because we are “supposed” to do something or not do something.

One possible lesson might be to overcome our fears and lack of self-worth and realize that we are free do as we are being motivated from within. In such a case we can work with various methods such as EFT, Sedona, Freeze Frame etc. to change how we perceive this and feel safe in following our heart.

Another possibility is that we need to let go of addictions, programmings, beliefs and fears concerning our freedom and be able to do what is being asked of us with love – with no trace of suppression or resentment. In this case our growth lies in transcending – perhaps with the same techniques – all obstacles to being able to do with love what is being asked.

Both paths are valuable and we need to be able to determine what our lesson is in each case. One way to do that is to imagine ourselves making separately the first choice and then the second and observe how we feel inside. Determine which choice feels better – happier, more full of joy and love. Another way is to seek to understand the motives and needs that lead us to each choice. Fear is not a good guide. Love and happiness are.

Often just realizing that we are free not to do “what we have / are supposed to do”, allows us to use our freedom to actually do it. An example is a woman I know who did not want to visit her husband’s relatives after her husband’s soul departed. She was being pressure by them that, as a proper widow, she should visit them every Sunday. She hated and resented this very much but feared what everyone would say if she did not comply. (Also they considered her responsible, because her husband had committed suicide).

After about fifteen minutes of EFT on her fear of not going, she was free from this fear and felt free not to visit them. After around five minutes of discussion, I asked her to close her eyes and decide what she wanted to do now that she was free no to go. She answered, “You know now I want to go, because I feel their pain and want to help them.”

This is a very important fact. When we feel that we have no choice – that we “must” do something, we feel pressure, suppressed and angry. When we realize we are free, we can then do the same thing with love and a sense of freedom.

Thus the fact that everything we do is actually a free choice is an extremely important truth to remember. All of our life we have been making free choices either to give up our freedom to get what we want from other or not give our freedom and do as we really believe and need. No one else was ever responsible for those choices. No one today –expect ourselves – is responsible for those choices.

When we realize this, we can confront our fears of complying and of not complying.

What are some of those fears and other obstacles?

These are our true suppressors.

1. Fear about what others think about us and our loved ones.
2. Fear of losing our money or source of income.
3. Fear of failing at some effort.
4. Fear of being wrong.
5. Fear of being alone in life.
6. Fear of death.
7. Fear of rejection or criticism.
8. Feelings of unworthiness and the fear that we are not worthy to have what we need or want.
9. Addictions to certain habits or substances such as smoking, drinking, certain food substances.
10. Addictions to certain emotional states or entanglement such as conflict, rejection, anger, hurt being the victim and many others.
11. The need for acceptance and love from certain persons or role models.
12. Various beliefs, programming and taboos about what we are allowed to do and have.
13. Beliefs about what we are capable of manifesting.
14. The role of the victim and unhappy one, which does not allow us to have what we want, because then we would not be the victim or unhappy.
15. Fear of punishment if we do not do what others want.
16. Fear that we will loose our self-worth if we do want the others want.
17. Fear that if we do what others request of us, then we am not free.
18. Fear of saying “no”.
19. Fear of saying “yes”.
20. Fear of expressing needs and desires.
21. Feeling weak and unworthy if we express needs or desires.

Our true freedom can be gained by overcoming this inner obstacles. Then we can be honest with ourselves and free either to say “no” to external forces or say “yes” with love and understanding.