Weekly Message for Sunday July 6, 2025 / Special for 4th of July
Freedom May
Disappoint
Freedom is not just a political
ideal—it is a personal reality that begins within. In How I Found Freedom in
an Unfree World, Harry Browne writes, “You are free to live your life as
you want to live it. You don’t have to conform to anyone else’s idea of how you
should live.” This truth reminds us that genuine freedom isn’t about changing
the world but about recognizing and acting from our own power to choose. Often,
people wait for systems to change or for permission from others before living
authentically, but Browne insists that your freedom is already yours if you're
willing to claim it.
Many of the traps Browne describes—such as the Identity Trap or the
Morality Trap—stem from inherited beliefs and expectations that keep us stuck
in roles or values we didn’t consciously choose. He notes, “The trap is in
believing that someone else’s notions about morality should govern your
actions.” To live freely, we must examine which rules serve us and which ones
simply bind us to frustration and guilt. Real freedom requires honesty with
ourselves and the courage to discard what doesn’t fit, even if it means
disappointing others or stepping outside the status quo.
Perhaps the most empowering message in Browne’s work is the idea that we
can begin to be free right now—not someday, not after the revolution, not when
others approve. “Freedom is the opportunity to live your life as you want to
live it,” he writes, “doing what you want, whenever you want, with whomever you
want, to the extent that your choices don’t infringe on the freedom of others.”
This redefines freedom from a social condition to a deeply personal experience.
It invites us to examine our attachments, take responsibility for our
happiness, and design a life of conscious, deliberate choice—right where we
are.
Keep the faith!
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