Where is our Freedom?

We stroll through life believing that all of the choices we make are our own. We hold our freedom in the highest esteem. But should we? Are we really free to do as we choose?

Definition of “Freedom”

Webster defines “freedom” as

• the quality or state of being free; and

• the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.

We most certainly have situations that are definitely considered necessity where we have no freedom at all, but what about coercion or constraint in choice of action? The purpose of this article is to examine where we do have any freedom or if such a thing actually exists at all.

Don’t take away my freedom!

Let’s look at a given situation where we are sure we have freedom, like choosing the color of a shirt. Do we choose red or green? On the surface, it would appear that this is most certainly a free choice. But in reality, the choice lies only in priority.

Do I choose based on what color I like the best? Perhaps the color I enjoy the most has changed. And then there is my friend’s opinion as well; and he or she is more than happy to present me with what they feel “looks” the best on me. But sometimes my friend’s opinion changes too…

If one digs deeper into these four separate situations, they will discover the four basic elements that determine our choices for us.

Element 1: “Does the choice only lie in what color I like best?”

We are born with predefined preferences. One has no idea what determines things such as not liking a certain kind of food, or a color that is preferential over all other colors. We say, “That’s just the way I am. That’s what I was born with.” And that is exactly right.

Each of us is born with a certain preference for each of our senses, whether it be what we see, smell, taste, hear, or feel. But these initial determined factors go way beyond that. We also have set emotional things we like or dislike naturally.

All of these preferences are in us from the get go, right out of the shoot. We have virtually no freedom of choice in their determination, and without outside influence, they will be followed every time. In other words, regarding what we are born with, there is no freedom at all.

Element 2: “Perhaps the color I enjoy the most has changed.”

As said above, if we have no outside influences such as need or another’s opinion, our decisions are based solely on our personal preference, something we have nothing to do with, for we are born with them. But everyone at one time or another has experienced a change in these preferences, such as “before I hated the taste of tomatoes, but now I love them”. What’s up with that?

The fact is that these initial preferences change, evolve over time. And when they do change, our choices will change with them. Does that mean we made an independent choice? Definitely not. It simply means that this control mechanism inside of us that determines what we choose, if we have no outside influence to counteract it, has somehow rearranged what we prefer. Sorry, no freedom here either.

Element 3: “And then there is my friend’s opinion as well, who is more than happy to present me with what he or she feels will ‘look’ the best on me.”

These are the outside influences, our environment. Of course, they influence us the most. They are so powerful that they can override our inner preferences in a heartbeat. For instance, I may love the color green, but my new girlfriend is just wild about seeing me in a black shirt. Now if we have a date tonight, you can just imagine what color I will wear.

But this influence is not limited to friends and family. We are constantly bombarded by television and radio advertisements always telling us what we need and why we need it. How many times have you seen something you just had to have, and a week after having gone out and bought it, you wonder why in the world you did that? You have just been nailed by society’s advertising. This influence extends into all aspects of our lives.

My surrounding environment tells me exactly what is important in my life. It determines what amount of money I should make and how I should make it, what level of education I should have, and even what I should have for dinner tonight. “Ah” you say, “here is some freedom, for I might choose between two different meals for supper after seeing both on TV.” Disappointment again, because that choice was made by a simple calculation of which meal will bring you the most pleasure. No Freedom here.

Element 4: “But sometimes my friend’s opinion changes too.”

Yes, a friend’s opinion changes as well. So does our society’s opinion. And that is the final factor in making our decisions. One only needs to look at how styles change every year to see this factor in all its glory. Dresses were short last year and my daughter needed six new ones. This year they are a bit longer. Uh oh, she needs several more.

What is going on here? Well, the society’s influence evolves too. We can really see this in education. Thirty years ago, a college degree was a good head start. Now it is an absolute necessity and a post graduate degree is considered a good start. Once again, no freedom to be found anywhere.

So if what we are born with, its changes, as well as our outside environment and its changes are what controls us and determines everything we do, then where is any freedom at all in our lives?

It is true that these four factors control every single thing we do. But there is one place of freedom. We cannot change what we are born with, but we can determine the environment in which we choose to exist. This one choice is the sole point of freedom in our entire life.

When one discovers the purpose why they are on the planet, in other words, the reason for their life, all they must do is to choose the environment that upholds that reason higher than anything else. Such a choice of environment will virtually guarantee the person will reach their life’s goal.