Comments on: A Definition of Freedom

By: How To Be More Creative Part 2 - Good Confusion

How To Be More Creative Part 2 - Good Confusion — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:02:44 +0000

[...] I did not make that up. Someone much smarter than me told it to me in a high school government class, but I’ve never forgotten [...]

By: How I Build Blog Traffic - The Guest Post | World's Strongest Librarian

How I Build Blog Traffic - The Guest Post | World's Strongest Librarian — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:12:53 +0000

[...] A Definition of Freedom [...]

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:09:03 +0000

Great post!
This is exactly the same thing I have been thinking about lately. What exactly is the nature of “freedom”? It means different things to different people.
Ive been told that freedom is doing god’s will, that freedom is a tangible product provided by leaders, blah, blah, blah. Freedom, depending how one defines it, can be these things and more. As I see it freedom begins with in each of us. Doing what is “right” is a good start, but what is “right”?
This response could easily turn into a post so I’ll cut it short there. Again, great post; it definitely gets the rusty mental gears meshing.

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:53:14 +0000

Sarah, I never did have a professor leap onto a table. I would have liked to have seen that. Sounds like he would have gotten along with a friend of mine: she is a 4'8", incredibly loud, incredibly German, self-improvement focused loon, and each year she hosts an event called "All Things Teutonic." Everyone who attends is required to bring a dachshund. The only music allowed is Wagner's Ring Cycle (reenacted with sock puppets) and David Hasselhoff. Josh Hanagarne’s last blog post..Book Review: The Chocolate War

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:17:10 +0000

Josh, what a thought-provoking and honest post! I love it!
Mr. Weeks reminds me a great deal of my college Philosophy professor. He was always pushing us to dig deeper into our brains for what we really believed, to find the universal truths in the world, and decide how WE wanted to live. (His passionate rants in fluent German and his tendency to leap onto tables definitely kept our attention. ;) )
I’m still not entirely sure what my personal definition of freedom is. I suppose it’s something along the lines of being free to be in control of my own life and my own destiny.

By: Sherri (Serene Journey)

Sherri (Serene Journey) — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:11:49 +0000

Hi Josh! This was truly a great read. Defining freedom is a toughie because like you say it will mean very different things to different people and how boring would it be if we were all morally identical. For me freedom is definitely the ability to make choices. Everything we do is a choice. So those of you that said freedom is being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want were right in a way as that's your choice. You just need to be willing to accept the consequences of those choices. Thanks for such a great article and for expanding my vocabulary a bit :) Sherri (Serene Journey)’s last blog post..Can You Really Live Each Day Like It’s Your Last?

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:59:57 +0000

@Lisis & @Laurie Thank you both for the kind words. Lisis, I caught that Seinfeld reference, don't think you're too sneaky:) I've added both of your blogs to my reader. Great stuff. Thanks again. Josh Hanagarne’s last blog post..Book Review: The Chocolate War

By: Laurie | Express Yourself to Success

Laurie | Express Yourself to Success — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:55:22 +0000

This is an excellent post, Josh. For me, freedom is being able to make choices, as Mr. Weeks said, but whether the choice is 'right' or not depends on the personality, experiences, culture, etc. of the individual. What's right for me may not be right for you (personal and/or societal) but either way, we both have the freedom of the choice. After writing that, my definition may change - and as I read what other commenters write, I"m sure it will. Great post, Josh. Thanks David for having such a thoughtful-provoking guest! Laurie | Express Yourself to Success’s last blog post..The Strength of Kindness

By: Lisis

Lisis — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:07:33 +0000

That section you just quoted, David, really struck me too. I truly believe freedom exists only within. You can be trapped in a concentration camp (like Frankl) and still FEEL free... or you can be out in the world doing whatever you want and still FEEL trapped. So I guess you have to become master of your own domain (of thoughts) to be truly free. PS: Josh, I love your sense of humor... I've been checking out your blog! :) Lisis’s last blog post..Notice The Fear, And Get Rid Of It!!

By: David

David — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:08:17 +0000

I think there are people who are “free” who don’t mind working 80-hour weeks. And there are those whose mental baggage mean that they can’t be free, no matter what their obligations are.

For sure. I agree with you that freedom equals “breathing room” of the mental sort. My experience is that you can find that breathing room in any moment in which you’re completely present, because the psychic intrusions of past and future aren’t crowding the moment you’re in.

But perhaps the discipline to stay present is an example of the “doing right” that Mr Weeks was talking about. The more I think about it, the more I think he knew exactly what he was talking about.

And yes, the group of regular commenters here are a special bunch! Love them all.