As you know, here in the United States, we’re all enjoying the peace and freedom to do things we like because of the members of the military – the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard. Therefore, we should express our gratitude for their service and their willingness to put their lives on the line to protect us from any threat, while most people are watching TV on the couch and complaining about the economy. No matter how you look at it, it’s clear that freedom is NOT free.

Freedom of Speech vs Freedom of Thoughts

We have the freedom to speak whatever we want, however we want, as long as it’s not a slander or libel (which might us a lawsuit or two, which we don’t want). But is it really a good thing to have the freedom of speech? Not necessarily. We should have the freedom to speak, but we should also exercise the freedom to think. It’s called the freedom of thoughts.

Think A Lot

Most people go through lives babbling about all different kind of things, but do they stop and think? (I’m sure you’ve encountered this type of people!) We are in such a society that people are into so much talking that they don’t take the time to think through our life regularly. It is probably one of the most neglected skill that we humans are natively exceptional at – thinking. And that’s why our brains have been growing every day!

Set aside 15 – 30 minutes every day to think and brainstorm ideas about how to improve yourself and track your progress so far. You’d be amazed how effective it is. Try it, you’ve got nothing to lose, but much to gain.

Speak Less, Listen More

Also, the more we speak, the less we learn. It’s by listening that we gain knowledge, which we could later apply in our life.

Having said that, it’s important to be able to articulate what you’ve learned so you can teach them to other people. But other than that, it’s best to practice conversation generosity, which is letting other people talk. After all, nobody wants to listen to you, but everybody wants to be listened to! That of course excludes those who practice conversation generosity.

Take Charge of Your Personal Finance

Next, I will talk about money. Are you chasing financial freedom, or are you chasing a bigger paycheck? Know that there’s a HUGE difference between them. Having a bigger paycheck often means having higher expenses to sustain the luxurious lifestyle that usually comes with a big paycheck. After all, if you’re earning 200k a year, are you still going to stay in the $800 studio in Brooklyn? No way! You’d be at least living in Manhattan, paying $5000 for a much bigger 1-BR apartment with swimming pool, gym and sauna.

But, financially speaking, it’s not how much you earn, but how much you keep that counts. You can earn $200k and save only $10,000 a year, or you could earn only $80k but save $16,000 a year. It’s an extreme scenario, but the point is you’ll never know when your circumstances will change so it’s always a great idea to have a safety net.

So, learning how to be financially free is important. For starters, go grab a personal finance book or read a great personal finance blog post. If you don’t want to go DIY, at least consult a professional financial advisor and learn from the pro. Some companies offer this type of service for free, so be sure to check with your employer to see if it’s available.

But, There’s A Price to Pay

Yes, as with everything else, you have to pay the price. What’s the price of freedom? You have to learn to give up. Give up that false, naive, comfortable thought that you have the freedom. If you have doubt as you’re reading this post, then you really don’t have true freedom!

To keep it simple, ask yourself one question: am I really free? The answer is most often no. If you’re working to make ends meet, you’re being controlled by 2 greatest emotions of all: fear and greed.

You fear losing the job and thus the income to sustain your current lifestyle.

Your greed for material possessions (new iPod, netbook, TV, fancy car, big house) is keeping you at your job even though you may just hate it.

True Freedom Comes from Within

These days, if you’re proactive and get things done at work, your employers will offer you growth and opportunities, but not job security. The good old job security promise has gradually changed, so don’t hold on to it any more. True freedom comes from yourself. If you’re capable, all-rounded and resilient, you will have your own job security because you’d be able to launch a career anytime, anywhere. Now that’s freedom.

It’s Time to Break Free from the Chains

If you want to be truly free, there’s never been a better timing than now. Now that layoffs are everywhere, isn’t it time for you to get your butt off the chair and start doing something? 4 things for you to do: think a lot, speak less, listen more, and take charge of your finances! Then you can stop being afraid of not having enough to make it through life, and be finally free.

So, are you willing to pay the price of freedom? What challenges do you you think you will face when you try to reclaim your true freedom?

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