Freedom to be Free

Today (27 April) South Africa is celebrating Freedom Day. It is the anniversary of the first time that South Africans of ALL races could finally vote and choose who they want to be lead by. Those of you who know the history of the country will appreciate the significance of this day as this freedom came at a great cost to many.

The need for freedom is not unique to us as South Africans and is not just political also. What I would like to explore today is my view of what I think about freedom in general.

There are 3 levels of freedom that we can identify.

At the most basic level is freedom as a species. This is the most obvious and easy to identity level of freedom. As humans we have a natural freedom. Even animals have a natural freedom. At this level freedom is not ambiguous and to a large extent appears to be inherently understood. Just observe any animal and you will see how they take their freedom as a matter of fact. Animals do not expect to be caged, to be blocked and for their freedom to be limited by any other animal or human being. Fundamentally, neither do human beings. So at a species level there is a need and an expectation and a right to freedom.

The next level of freedom is at a group level. This can be any form of grouping such a race, gender, nationality, culture, family unit etc. This is the most logical and rational level in that each group needs to be free to fully express themselves. It can also be the most divisive level as one group’s freedom may limit another group’s freedom. It is at this level that many causes are identified and plenty wars are also fought.

The most fundamental level of freedom is the individual level. This is the freedom where one needs to feel safe and comfortable in their own skin. Individuals need the freedom to just be. The freedom to express their uniqueness without fear of judgement or oppression. This is the most difficult freedom to fight for as it is an individual battle and one can feel misunderstood by others, even those within his or her own species or group. And yet without freedom at this most fundamental level it becomes difficult to enjoy the freedom which comes with the other levels.

There is a duality to freedom which can help us understand or even express our quest for freedom better.

At times the need for freedom is expressed as a push factor, meaning there is something or someone one needs Freedom From. This can be a situation, a circumstance or even relationship which an individual or a group is finding oppressive and need to be released from.

The other side of this duality if the pull factor of freedom. This is about opportunities this freedom is opening up. Where is this freedom taking you? What do you then need Freedom To do, to say, to be etc?

Many will easily identify what they do not want (their Freedom From) and not spend as much time, effort or energy in understanding what it is that they actually do want (their Freedom To).

Finally, there are 3 things I believe we should never be free from.

We should never be free from the responsibilities that come with freedom. We have all these rights (at species, group and individual level) however they are meaningless if not enjoyed responsibly. Sadly, this is an aspect of freedom that many seem to overlook.

We should also never be free from the consequences of our choices and actions. All this well-deserved Freedom To is not without consequences. Whatever you choose to do will have a result that you or those around you cannot escape.

Lastly, we should never be free from purpose. I believe the biggest need that human beings have, even bigger than the need for freedom, is the need for purpose. We can have all the freedom we want, to be and to do whatever we want. Yet it is all meaningless when one has no sense of purpose and no sense of why one exists.

So, my wish for you this Freedom Day is that as you contemplate and celebrate your freedom you may also explore and consider your purpose, as that is likely to bring you the greatest freedom you will ever experience.