3 Types of Freedom and Tips on Breaking Free

Freedom means the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without restraint or hindrance, without restriction, interference, or fear.  Essentially freedom means having choices. It is about being able to change your mind and choose different paths. It is about having no labels, dropping expectations of others, simply being who you are. Freedom gives a feeling of no shame or guilt and being able to express yourself. Freedom (in psychology) is an individual’s capacity to make choices and act upon them without undue constraints.

Mental freedom begins with detaching yourself from the emotions, ideals, definitions, and standards you learned growing up. To be mentally free:

• Do something that makes you happy
• Don’t do something just because someone tells you to
• Treat yourself as you are valuable
• Take ownership of your actions and decisions
• Hold yourself accountable
• Learn to let go

Synonyms for mental freedom include serenity, peace, calmness, tranquility, contentment, and bliss.

Emotional freedom is about learning to identify guilt, shame, and anxiety and how to reject them. Learning to fill yourself with love for other people. Finding your purpose and living it out. To be emotionally free:

• Focus on your being
• Enjoy the present moment
• Let go of negative thoughts
• Stop stressing about what happened yesterday and feeling anxious about what will happen tomorrow

Synonyms for emotional freedom include peace of mind, feeling of safety, positivity, ease of mind/feeling of ease, absence of anxiety, reliance, freedom from doubt, absence of worry.

Personal freedom is freedom of your mind from what determines your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.  To have personal freedom:

• Let go of fear
• Set boundaries
• Simplify life
• Build resilience
• Express authenticity

Synonyms for personal freedom include autonomy, independence, liberty, liberation, self-determination.

No matter what type of freedom you seek, it is important to break free from the negative thoughts that may hinder you from finding freedom:

• Recognize your thoughts
• Challenge your thoughts
• Be your own friend
• Focus on positive people (and be one)
• Focus on the present moment

Once you begin to break free, you will feel a greater sense of control and choice. True freedom is a state of mind that you can choose to experience in any given moment. To have it and improve overall well-being:

• Finds ways to reduce stress and your stress levels
• Learn new things and express creativity
• Spend time in nature and fresh air
• Connect with others
• Look after your physical health and try to stay active
• Get plenty of sleep (8 hours/night)
• Take breaks when needed
• Do something you enjoy
• Focus on the present
• Talk to someone you trust
• Find ways to make a difference
• Volunteer your time
• Establish routines
• Turn off the gadgets/reduce screen time
• Try to wind down before bed
• Remember “it” won’t last forever

Each week we try to correlate these Blog Posts with our weekly newsletter.  If you haven’t yet, enter your first name, email and click “yes, please” in the black box within the main Blog Page of this website to have these drop into your inbox weekly. In each you will also get a helpful Mindful Minute – this week, “Listen to Music”.

For additional tips on mindful living and topics like this, follow me @livinghealthyin5fields on social media.