Freedom is a state of being unconstrained in choice, action. Oppressive regimes adversely impact the freedom of their society. Parents impact the freedom of children, though typically as a method of secure mentorship, as they aren’t yet ready to meet the vagaries of the outside world.

However, what is freedom? Is it being physically unconstrained, or mentally/spiritually unconstrained? Nelson Mandela would argue the latter as he spent 27 years physically constrained, yet blossomed mentally and spiritually.

Is it only possible to find freedom when alone, unconnected from a life partner, or others? This implies the life partner has no role in developing the other’s self discovery, experience, freedom from self dogma – freedom from self (ego, misperception)…as it may be that someone alone manufactures their own purposeful prison – their way of attempting to protect themselves from their earlier experiences with others, making the self-limiting misinterpretation that their personal history will repeat. The irony of the individual mistakenly creating their own, permanent prison in their pursuit of freedom.

Yet, it is a mug’s game. While most philosophies, psychological tips, repeat advice such as “you can only successfully love others if you love yourself”, etc., it is also clear freedom can only be found in conjunction with another – to suggest otherwise flies in the face of our physiology, our evolution, our purpose. However, the key is not with just any other…therein lies the rub – how to identify the other who will take the journey to freedom together?

It may never be achieved. Think  of it, the probabilities of the timing alone in encountering this other person capable of this journey are astronomical. Even if we did, it is more likely our egos cannot allow us to consider freedom as a collective endeavor…we are apparently destined to continue building our own “freedom” prisons, and inevitably becoming a refrain in the saddest process of all…looking out our prison window lamenting what could have been, and never was.

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