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What does Freedom Feel Like?
And how to cultivate the experience of freedom.
The question was — what does freedom feel like, in yourself and in relationship?
When I think of the feeling of most expansive freedom, I imagine taking my first steps into the air of a new city, traveling alone, with no agenda, itinerary, or duty. That first touch of sunlight, as from a different sun entirely, on the skin; the first breath of new air laden with exotic scents. Anything is possible. Adventure awaits.
But what is freedom, really?
To avoid philosophical confusion, let’s assume — as a thought experiment — that we have freedom of choice. Let’s not tangle ourselves up in the causality of neurobiology, and mental gymnastics of determinism. I can choose to get out of bed today, or I can choose to stay put. Whether or not this is philosophically or scientifically sustainable, it is the experience that we have in this world.
Assuming, then, that there is some legitimate choice in this world, how do we get to the heart of freedom?
Freedom is often thought of as both a “freedom from” (constraint, limitation) and “freedom to” (presence of opportunity). But these — in fact — describe a single freedom. Presence of opportunity is another way of describing the absence of constraint.
