Being Free Is Your Birthright

Becoming lighter is the only way to fly.

To really take off in life, you’ve got to lighten up and let go. Letting go of everything that no longer serve you.

Ryan Holiday, an author, once said that a Stoic is someone who looks fate in the eye and says, “Nope, not today.” 

They resist. 

They fight. 

They stay true to what’s right, especially when things get tough. 

The Roman philosopher Seneca also reminds us that, “If they can force you, then you’ve forgotten how to die.” 

In other words, true freedom comes from tapping into your inner strength; that’s what really sets you free.

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In his book Seat of the Soul, author Gary Zukav talks about “authentic power,” which is a kind of power that no one can take away from you.

It’s not about looks, money, or fame, this is something much deeper.

As Zukav explains, “Authentic power is when your personality comes to serve the energy of your soul.” 

In other words, it’s when who you really are matches your true self.

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“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Says the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. So basically, you get to control how you feel. 

Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher, also reminds us that “Life reveals itself more and more once you dive deep within the depths of your soul.” 

By looking within, you can see what really matters and what will last after you’re gone. 

In turn, this helps you stop focusing on your ego and in all the little things that don’t matter.

Spinoza, one of my favorite philosophers, once said, “A free man thinks of nothing less than of death, since his wisdom is a meditation on life, not on death.” 

What he’s saying here is that a truly free person focuses on how they’re living, not worrying about death.

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Tim Urban’s The Tail End showed a great example of how much fucks you have left give. It’s an eye-opening read that explores just how limited your time and energy really are. 

And spoiler: you don’t have a lot of time to waste! 

As Mark Manson would says, “You and everyone you know are going to be dead soon.” In that short time, you’ve got a limited number of things to care about — and it’s way fewer than you think.

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So remember, no matter who comes at you or how many opinions you get, you’ve got to stay true to yourself. 

Marcus Aurelius, one of the last good Roman Emperor, noticed how easily we care more about what others think than what we think of ourselves. The mind is so bizarre. 

But the Stoic mindset teaches you: You don’t control what happens, only how you respond to it.

And so if you focus too much on the pain or fear you’re feeling, you’re letting those emotions to control you. 

Instead, you want to connect with the best part of yourself or focus on something bigger and more meaningful. 

Ask yourself this every day: “Does what am doing right now, give me energy or drain me?” 

Because as saying goes, where your attention goes, your energy will follow. 

Your brain is like an antenna, constantly picking up info. 

So, be careful what you’re tuning into.

Gandhi said, “Don’t you ever let anyone walk on your soul with their sticking dirty feet.” 

Don’t let their negativity get to you. 

And when you shift your focus, you change what you let in. 

This allows you to not absorb people’s bad energy.

Keep a small circle of people who help you grow and push you out of your comfort zone. 

You’re not here to be stuck or controlled — you’re meant to be free, spread your wings, and let your spirit soar.

“Some birds aren’t meant to be caged,” Morgan Freeman says in The Shawshank Redemption. “Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was wrong to lock them up rejoices.”

So don’t let fear hold you back. 

We’re all a little weird in our own way here on this earth — some of us just hide it better. 

So, always remember that you are loved, you are worthy, your life matters, and being free is your birthright.

Thanks for reading, and stay blessed!

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