In my hippy days we used to listen to Janis Joplin sing “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ else to lose, And nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ if it ain’t free” (from Me and Bobby McGee). Freedom to me and my brethren freaks meant leaving behind the values of our parents and the consumerist society, the ability to grow our hair long and dress how we like, and construct lives built around values such as peace, love, and happiness.
But truth be told, being a hippy wasn’t free. Just like everyone else, hippies need to eat, clothe themselves (when not running around nude), and have shelter from the elements. Those things cost money. Dressing in paisley shirts, bell bottom jeans, and Birkenstocks cost money. Mind-altering drugs cost money. Living off the land cost money.
Even Mahatma Gandhi, who lived a simple life with few possessions, needed money to survive, albeit he had benefactors that made sure he was well cared for. Even hermitic monks in secluded monasteries who many grow their own food need to barter during droughts.
The point is that nothing is really free—there’s always a price to pay. If not paid with money, then it is paid through barter or hard work. We are interdependent upon one another and we want something in return our work.
In the United States we like to pride ourselves on our “freedom.” The Declaration of Independence gives us the “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But there are many unjust laws on the books in America. There are many people who have been falsely accused and imprisoned. People may placate that the system has its flaws, but it’s the best system in the world. In the Mexican constitution people are given the right to flee from police and escape prison, recognizing the fact that any government can be tyrannical and unjust.
What does it truly mean to be “free?” For me freedom is a state of being; free from worry, anxiety, and want. It is a state where I have peace of mind and happiness. Using my “Balls of Energy” technique (click here to read the blog post and learn this technique) each day I concentrate on the energies of Peace and Happiness and attract them into my life.
I also concentrate on the energy of Prosperity. Prosperity can buy a certain amount of freedom. If you have enough money, you can quit your job and pursue passions. If you have money some problems are easier to fix—like when your car breaks down, so you have less worries. Money can buy a certain amount of peace of mind, although there are lots of rich people in the world who have yet to achieve freedom from worry and anxiety.
So, above all, it seems that freedom is a state of mind. A state of being that no one can take away from us no matter what they do to us. There are people who have had their freedom taken away from them and been imprisoned, but still they maintain the freedom state of mind. The human mind is very capable and strong. Each day I try to strengthen my mind and I encourage you to do the same.
Reading this blog is a step in the right direction of exercising and strengthening your mind muscle. So is listening to inspirational CDs. I mostly listen to non-fictional, self-help audio books in my car. Meditation is a great way to find peace of mind (i.e, freedom from worry, anxiety, and depression). All of us are works in progress who need constant positive input.
But truth be told, being a hippy wasn’t free. Just like everyone else, hippies need to eat, clothe themselves (when not running around nude), and have shelter from the elements. Those things cost money. Dressing in paisley shirts, bell bottom jeans, and Birkenstocks cost money. Mind-altering drugs cost money. Living off the land cost money.
Even Mahatma Gandhi, who lived a simple life with few possessions, needed money to survive, albeit he had benefactors that made sure he was well cared for. Even hermitic monks in secluded monasteries who many grow their own food need to barter during droughts.
The point is that nothing is really free—there’s always a price to pay. If not paid with money, then it is paid through barter or hard work. We are interdependent upon one another and we want something in return our work.
In the United States we like to pride ourselves on our “freedom.” The Declaration of Independence gives us the “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But there are many unjust laws on the books in America. There are many people who have been falsely accused and imprisoned. People may placate that the system has its flaws, but it’s the best system in the world. In the Mexican constitution people are given the right to flee from police and escape prison, recognizing the fact that any government can be tyrannical and unjust.
What does it truly mean to be “free?” For me freedom is a state of being; free from worry, anxiety, and want. It is a state where I have peace of mind and happiness. Using my “Balls of Energy” technique (click here to read the blog post and learn this technique) each day I concentrate on the energies of Peace and Happiness and attract them into my life.
I also concentrate on the energy of Prosperity. Prosperity can buy a certain amount of freedom. If you have enough money, you can quit your job and pursue passions. If you have money some problems are easier to fix—like when your car breaks down, so you have less worries. Money can buy a certain amount of peace of mind, although there are lots of rich people in the world who have yet to achieve freedom from worry and anxiety.
So, above all, it seems that freedom is a state of mind. A state of being that no one can take away from us no matter what they do to us. There are people who have had their freedom taken away from them and been imprisoned, but still they maintain the freedom state of mind. The human mind is very capable and strong. Each day I try to strengthen my mind and I encourage you to do the same.
Reading this blog is a step in the right direction of exercising and strengthening your mind muscle. So is listening to inspirational CDs. I mostly listen to non-fictional, self-help audio books in my car. Meditation is a great way to find peace of mind (i.e, freedom from worry, anxiety, and depression). All of us are works in progress who need constant positive input.
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