Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
As I sat on the plane, I couldn’t help but think I had made one of my best decisions to date. I was on a high from a perfect weekend filled with great memories with my grandparents, beautiful weather, and some of my favorite restaurants.
Let’s rewind.
Two weeks ago, I was wrapping up my work for the day, and I couldn’t stop thinking about booking a trip to Arizona for the weekend. My grandma was going to be flying out the next morning, and my grandpa was already out there and would be flying back Monday. It just seemed like the perfect opportunity to spend an impromptu weekend with them at one of our favorite vacation spots.
So at 3:00 pm Thursday, I just decided that I was going to fly out at 10:00 am Friday with my grandma, her sister, and her brother-in-law. In less than 24 hours I was flying out and would return on Monday.
While I briefly wondered if I was crazy, I wanted to take advantage of the freedom I’d worked to create for myself over the prior year, and it was a priority for me to spend that time with my grandparents in the warm Arizona sun.
While I know that Freedom is one of my top three values, I’d be willing to bet that the majority of the population values freedom, so let’s talk more about it.
Freedom is personal
Freedom is personal. It means different things to different people. For some, freedom means not having to work on vacation. For others, freedom means only having to worry about making decisions for themselves. And to others, freedom might mean a solo backpacking trip.
For me, freedom means being able to make my own schedule and go where I want. I did work in the mornings in Arizona, even though it was the weekend because I knew I had used time I’d normally take to work at the airport and on the plane. But to me, freedom doesn’t mean not having to work on vacation. Freedom meant that I could pick up my work, fly to a different state, wake up early to get my work done, and enjoy the rest of my day with my family.
No one can define what freedom means for you. You know that exhilarating feeling that you get when you are feeling free. That’s a template for the type of freedom you value. And if freedom is what you’re after, it’s important to create your future around that type of freedom, not what you think freedom should look like.
How to create freedom
The first step in creating freedom is to define what freedom means for you. And you may go straight to all the things you’d love to do that might make you feel free: a trip abroad, a weekend to yourself, starting your own business, etc.
But defining what freedom means for you goes a layer deeper. You first need to take some time to reflect on your values and priorities. You also need to create space to be intentional about the vision of what you’d love to create for yourself. As you formulate what this looks like for you, you can start to see the picture become clearer of your own vision of freedom.
And the next step to freedom is actually NOT waiting around for that vision to come true. Just like happiness, freedom is not the result of some event that we wait and hope for. Freedom is something we create for ourselves.
If we rely on external circumstances, it becomes easy to make excuses for why freedom is elusive. And if we wait until we achieve our goals, we’re probably likely to set another set of goals where we say, “Once I do that, I’ll take that vacation.”
But on the other hand, I recognize that we can’t just wish for freedom, and BAM, you’re on a beach.
Freedom is the result of taking continuous inspired actions towards your vision and the life you want to create for yourself. And just like you start to make your vision come to life through small inspired actions, your freedom comes to life in the same way.
Maybe you start small by taking yourself on a coffee date, which turns into a long weekend, which turns into a week-long getaway. But in any of these cases, you aren’t waiting for someone or something to save you. You’re creating this for yourself!
Stigmas related to freedom
If you’re an aspiring business owner, you’ve probably heard two extremes. One extreme is that you’ll have endless freedom if you own your own business. The other extreme is that you’re going to be working 24/7 and will have less of a life if you branch out on your own.
If you are a business owner, you’ve probably actually felt both of these extremes.
I think the reality is some sort of middle ground. As a business owner, you are able to gain freedom through the autonomy you’ve created for yourself, the ability to make your own schedule, and the ability to structure your business how you’d like.
But you still need to put in the work. Owning your own business does not mean needing to work 24/7. Owning your own business does, however, mean that you (and potentially others) are dependent on yourself for your income, so you need to be intentional about your use of time and make sure to get the work done while also enjoying your freedom.
As a copywriter, I’ve created the freedom I desire by being able to structure my own schedule, travel at the drop of a hat by bringing my work anywhere, and choose the clients that I want to work with.
I can also help YOU create your freedom! I’m able to partner with you on one of the most crucial aspects of your business by taking care of the words for you and letting you focus on your passion and freedom. By freeing up this time and energy for you, just think of the endless possibilities of what might be on your horizon!
Sound enticing? Book a free strategy session using the button below!
Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.