Freedom From the Inside Out
The month of July hosts several Independence Day celebrations around the world. July 1st was Canada’s Independence Day and the “4th of July” is recognized as Independence Day in the US. Global disruptions are showing the…
The month of July hosts several Independence Day celebrations around the world. July 1st was Canada’s Independence Day and the “4th of July” is recognized as Independence Day in the US.
Global disruptions are showing the world that freedom exists, or doesn’t exist, on many levels. To speak without hindrance, to think and live without imprisonment or attacks, are not universally experienced and could be the subject of many blogs. But what we write about this week, is your own inner freedom.
Freedom starts within you and your relationship with your own thoughts and internal conversations. You will never be truly free unless you are free from your own inner tyranny and self-persecution.
In our education and training workshops, it often surprises participants to learn that the three Dreaded Drama Triangle (DDT) roles of Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer not only describe their relationships with the external world, but that they also operate inside each person (we call this your inner-DDT).
For most people, their inner Persecutor is running in the background of their consciousness, influencing their beliefs about themselves and the world. If your personal thoughts are self-critical, your peace of mind and emotional well-being will suffer, and you may never experience true personal freedom.
We have coached hundreds of leaders who, by all accounts, are outwardly successful. But when asked about what they say to themselves privately, they often are their worst tyrants.
Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you will ever have. And, how you relate to yourself will have a big impact on how you relate to others.
Victor Frankl, a survivor of Auschwitz and the Holocaust, wrote in his classic book, Man’s Search for Meaning: “The last of the human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstances—to choose one’s own way.”Fully embracing that you are always at choice is where personal freedom lives. You may not like your choices, yet you are free to always choose.
The key to making empowered choices and claiming personal freedom is to understand how your mind works. The more you understand that your inner Persecuting voice is one of many voices, it will loosen its grip. Just because a thought pops into your head doesn’t mean you have to believe it, give it any power, or act on it. It is only when you invest your energy in self-criticism does a thought grow and persecute you.
We all have self-critical and demeaning thoughts from time to time. The secret is to view them as passing chatter. Just a few deep breaths or a short conscious walk can help you quiet the voice. Once you do this, you have a better ability to calm yourself and realize that you are always at choice about what you believe or say.
Personal freedom is choosing what thoughts to give your attention and power to. Just as you have the DDT roles operating in you, you also have the TED* (*Empowerment Dynamic)® roles of Creator, Challenger, and Coach available in the way you relate to yourself and others.
As you become more self-observant and aware, you can choose to focus upon, and nurture, your Creator essence. The Creator in you helps to clear your mind and brings well-being and freedom to your life. You will feel a lot more positive energy and joy when you see that freedom does lie within. You may still hear your inner-tyrant from time-to-time, you just don’t have to give that voice any power.
You can choose personal freedom by claiming your true essence as a Creator.