Freedom. ‘Tis the goal of every man, whether he identifies is as such or not. We earn money, not for things or even status, but to be free from worry, and free to what we want with our time. We become strong to incur the confidence to try new things, and to embark on more exciting, and often more dangerous adventures. We expand our minds to be able to think freely, to form our own opinions, thoughts, and worldview. It’s freedom that drove many of the great men of the past to change the world; be it freedom from tyranny, or freedom to make their own way in the world, and make an impact on this planet.
In the past we fought for freedom. We died for a chance to taste its sweet nectar. Today, while we hustle and work to be financially free, we train to be physically capable of becoming free, and we read and study to free our minds, freedom has become an elusive goal, and the freedom we once died for is almost a myth.
Today, while freedom still may be the goal, it’s rare that we’re free from worry. It’s impossible to be free to do what we want with what we’ve earned. We’re dependent on things to brighten our mood or keep us safe. We’re under the illusion that we’re free, but we’re not. Freedom, however, can be. It should be.
To be truly free is to be truly happy and to be living life on the terms you dictate. To be free is to be a warrior. To be free is to be a man.
Freedom From…
There’s freedom from things that inhibit freedom. To be free you have to be free from an oppressive relationship, job, or environment. Your environment shouldn’t contain you or keep you small. It should be free from boundaries and limitations. This isn’t, however, relegated to your surroundings, your jobs, or your friends, but to your thoughts as well.
You need to be free from your own mental limitations. You are a warrior, and you come from warriors, and your thoughts should convey this. Don’t bind yourself, release yourself to be the conquerer you can be.
Freedom To…
While we need to break free from those things that hold us back from greatness, we also have to be free to do and be whomever, and whatever we see fit to do or be. As long as these freedoms aid others, instead of hurting others, we have to possess the capacity to attempt to do such things. This can mean an adventure, a business venture, a dream. The freedom to do is as important as the freedom from, but both are heavily dependent on one another.
33 Steps to Freedom
These steps will help you see true freedom, and thus, create a life where you’re the master of your own domain (thanks Seinfeld), ruler of your own life, and king of your own destiny.
*Note, the most important part of creating your own freedom is found on page two (tell me what you think it is in the comments section).
Part I: Self-Reliance
To be free, you can’t be reliant on others.
Grow strong.
To be self-reliant you can’t rely on others for protection, confidence, or assistance in matters that you should be able to handle yourself. Your body needs to be a foundation for your freedom. It needs to enhance your capacity to perform, to survive, and to conquer the obstacles that place themselves on your road to freedom.
Being physically strong will give you a foundation to be physically free.
Learn to cook.
A man, if he’s free, has to know how to take care of himself, and his body. You have to not only know what to put it your mouth, but how to prepare it for yourself, and for others.
Learn to defend yourself.
It’s great to know how to defend yourself, but it’s far greater to know how to defend others, this is freedom. It’s a quiet confidence that comes with the knowledge that you indeed can kick some ass if need be.
Learn to live off the land.
We’re so dependent on grocery stores, restaurants, electricity, and heating, myself included. To be truly free you at least have to know how to live, survive, and thrive off of what you can kill and prepare. Freedom is freedom from dependance, and that includes depending on your home, your government, and your friends.
Learn to love loneliness.
One of the greatest fear men and women have is the fear of loneliness. It shouldn’t be. Being alone should be something we look forward to. It’s in our alone time that our thoughts are clearest, our mission most vivid. Don’t be afraid of being alone, use it to your advantage. To be strong amongst strong men, you first have to be strong when there’s nothing to prove, and no one to prove it to other than yourself.
Form your own opinions.
To be free you have to think freely. You have to be your own man, and to be your own man you have to have your own values. Sure, they’re founded upon the values of others, and who you are is a collage of everyone and everything that’s impacted your life, but by expanding your knowledge base through reading and study, you form your own opinions and identity. Read a lot, and read to be free.
Become resistant to the elements.
Part of becoming a Navy Seal, is training your body to become somewhat immune to the elements. They swim in frigid waters, then have to have the clarity of mind to think and perform cognitive tasks. Train your body and mind to think clearly no matter how tough the elements may be.
Why is this important for your freedom? You’ll keep your sanity in almost any situation, no matter how stressful. Use your body to train your mind. This can be done in the gym, within an individual set. As your mind begins to wander, or your body is begging you to quit, have the mental toughness to push on, and move forward.
Part II: The Physical
Freedom is a physical thing, as well as en emotional, spiritual, and economical endeavor as well. To be free, truly free, you need to build a body that allows you to be free.
Build a body that can withstand.
Don’t downgrade the importance of a strong body. A strong body wards off sickness, it gives you energy, it aids you hormonally, and it allows you to be free.
This past weekend I went camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains near Calgary, Alberta. Rather than following the public trails, my pal and I went off on our own, and up the mountain. We could do so because we were in shape. We could climb higher and walk further because our bodies allowed us to. It’s a small example, but being physically strong, allows you to live strong.
To become stronger you can’t simply walk into the gym and expect your body to transform into a stronger version of itself, you need a plan. Use this to grow stronger.
Grow stronger.
Don’t be content with simply being able to withstand, want more. Be more. Build a stronger body that will help you do things that other men can’t. This is freedom. Freedom is being optimal, it’s being at your best. When others have to quit or take a break, you can move forward. Your limitations are limited. Your possibilities aren’t.
Know what hurts you (diet).
Grow your knowledge base as to what hurts you on a hormonal level with regards to your diet. Read a lot, study, form your own opinions, or you can just take the countless hours of research that I’ve already put into the topic, and adjust your diet accordingly.
I can tell you this right now, if you eat like the majority of the men in our society, you’re eating in a way that is completely killing your testosterone and human growth hormone levels. Read this to change that: How to Naturally Enhance Your Testosterone Levels.
Know your environment.
Just like your diet can hurt you, so can your environment. Stay away from plastics, for one. Don’t carry your food in them, nor your drink in them. There are things in your diet and your environment that harm you. To be free, you need to know what is good for you, and what is bad. Being free is being free from ignorance – in every aspect of the word.
Build a body fit for war.
Know how to defend yourself and others, grow strong, and be prepared for war. War is something you’re in the middle of daily, whether you admit it or not, and a strong body aids you in this battle.
Don’t rely on others to defend you. Part of being a man is being able to defend yourself, and part of being free is being able to defend yourself and others. Is this the only path to freedom? No, there are other paths which we’ll touch on in a bit, but being physically free to walk the earth as you please, on your own terms, is incredibly valuable and unique in a society that’s becoming even more obese as the years pass.
Build a body skilled in war.
Learn the skills that allow you to fight. Expanding your mind is part of this, learning a martial art or boxing is another aspect of being skilled for war. Don’t just build strength and power and endurance, but train to possess the skills that will lead to your victory, and your freedom.
Develop a tactical mind as well. Have the body that can carry out what your intelligent mind wants you to carry out. The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli is a great book with regards to the tactics of war, and the tactics of gaining power. I don’t adhere to, nor condone, everything talked about in the book, but many have used the good in his book to gain their own freedom, and the freedom of others if they so choose.
Part III: Purpose
You need a purpose that propels you to be the best man you can be, but also a free man. Without a purpose there is no reason for freedom, nor any motivation to become greater than you are at the present moment.
Identify your dream.
Why are you free? I mean, what’s the point of you being free? There’d better be a good one. There has to be a reason as to why you’re fighting for your freedom, and why you deserve it. What’s your purpose? Is your purpose your career, your mission in life, your family? What are you fighting for?
Identify your greatest dream. It’s the simple act of fighting to make that dream a reality that makes you free.
Have the courage.
The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage. ~ Thucydides
A dream is a great thing, but if it’s not accompanied by the courage to take action on that dream, it’s useless. Action takes courage, as does freedom. Deserve to be free by acting in a way that warrants the freedom. Warriors of the past had to fight for their freedom. Many of them died in doing so. Freedom is something all men want, but only a few have. These few have courage. It’s a characteristic that every free man must possess, if he doesn’t, he’s bound by his fears.
Inspire others.
You’re not in this alone, nor am I. A free man isn’t free alone, he’s free as a part of a group of free men and women. William Wallace didn’t fight for his own freedom, but for the freedom of his countrymen. Learn from his example, as well as every other great warrior‘s example as well. Fight for others, not just for yourself. In doing so, you’ll inspire others.
The mere act of inspiring others to join your fight and aid you in your quest. You’ll need a helping hand at some point.
Be in the ring.
Do you get excited by small goals that you know you can accomplish with your eyes closed? Of course not. It’s only the big, hairy, audacious goals and epic dreams that excite you enough that you’ll persist and continue to pursue these goals and dreams in the face of great adversity.
Freedom is wasted on the timid souls who dare to do nothing of substance, who talk loud behind the backs of those protecting them but who quiver when the battle is brought to their door step. Freedom is only possessed by, and reserved for, the strong men and women who have the courage to be in the ring.
“It’s not the critic who counts. It’s not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled. Credit belongs to the man who really was in the arena, his face marred by dust, sweat, and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs to come short and short again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming. It is the man who actually strives to do the deeds, who knows the great enthusiasm and knows the great devotion, who spends himself on a worthy cause, who at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement. And, who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and cruel souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” ~ Teddy Roosevelt
Act.
Be a man of actions, not of intentions. Freedom isn’t something that can only be talked about or dreamt of. Freedom is carried out through your actions. Are you working towards your dream? Are you living the life you want to live? Answer those questions not with a yes or a no, but with what you do with your time tomorrow.
Live free. Be free. Don’t wait for your freedom, take steps to acquire it, and take it.
Fight your enemy.
Freedom has to be fought for, it isn’t simply given. Anything trying to inhibit your freedom is your enemy. Your laziness is your enemy, as is your fear. Fight them daily. If you’re not fighting those things holding you from financial, physical, or spiritual freedom, you’re not a free man.
Fight others enemies as well.
Freedom isn’t singular. Sure, a man can forge his own freedom, but what’s the point? We’re in this together. Fight for other’s freedom as well. Give your family the capacity to forge their own, and inspire others to do this same. Continue Reading On Page 2 >>>>
