The Price of Freedom
Lately, people have been talking a lot about “financial freedom,” or how young people are choosing freelancing as a way to live more freely.
💡 So, what exactly is freedom, and why do so many people pursue it?
What Is Freedom?
To me, freedom is simply being able to do what you want to do. Others define it in the negative—as not having to do what you don't want to do—but fundamentally, the idea is the same.
By exploring these two concepts, “doing” and “wanting,” we can achieve freedom at different levels by narrowing the gap between what we want to do and what we are actually capable of doing.
When the gap between these two approaches zero, it seems we're finally able to reach the threshold of what we call freedom.
What Are the Different Levels of Freedom?
- Freedom of thought: “Doing” can also mean “thinking.” Our minds belong to us, our imagination is our own asset, and our thoughts represent a fundamental form of freedom that no one can truly take away from us.
- Freedom of action: We achieve this form of freedom by turning our thoughts into actions. These can be small or significant actions, good or bad ones.
- Freedom within boundaries: Of course, true freedom means not affecting or harming others. Ethics and the law help guide our freedom within boundaries that benefit the wider community and society.
How Can We Achieve Freedom?
Based on the definition above, we can easily identify two parallel approaches to achieving freedom:
- Expand what we're capable of doing.
- Limit what we want.
That's why I believe independence is the foundation, freedom is the driving force, and happiness is the ultimate goal. Sounds familiar? It almost resembles Vietnam's national motto. =)))
Independence – Freedom – Happiness
My Personal Experience with Freedom
For me, freedom is actually quite simple. It can mean:
- Independence in thought: Having the freedom to think for myself and preventing other people's opinions from easily influencing my mindset—something people nowadays often call psychological manipulation. =)))
- Financial independence: Having at least six months' worth of essential living expenses saved up, giving me the freedom to think and act without fear. It means knowing that tomorrow, I could quit my job at any time and no longer have to stay in a job I don't want.
- Independence in time: Being the kind of person who can step outside at 10 p.m. just to grab a cup of coffee or hang out at a bar somewhere.
- Independence in space: Living alone and having the freedom to go clothes-free whenever I feel like it. :):)
- Independence in health: Maintaining both physical and mental health so I can enjoy everything listed above. :)))
- ...
What's the Price of Freedom?
And then I realized... the price of freedom is loneliness.
Because only when you're alone, doing things on your own, can you truly minimize the external factors that influence your freedom of will.
Moreover, the journey toward independence demands an enormous amount of focus and discipline. Along the way, relationships seem to gradually fall away, one after another.
And then there are days when you're so overwhelmed by negativity that you feel like falling apart, or days when something wonderful happens and you receive good news—yet you no longer know whom to share it with...
A Saigon evening, with no one to share a drink with...
June 18, 2023