"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom."
-Bob DylanFreedom
What is it?
The existential concern of freedom refers to the reality that we humans have the ability to reflect upon our lives - look back at where we've been and ahead to where we're going - and ultimately make decisions about our current actions based on a range of possibilities. This freedom, perhaps unexpectedly to some, can bring about a great deal of psychological suffering and anxiety. We may feel shame and guilt over past actions, fear over impending consequences, and insecurity over whether or not we can trust ourselves. Furthermore, we may become confused over what we can and can't control in this big, confusing world. The way we respond to our freedom dictates one aspect of our adult development.What are the challenges?
- To develop a realistic sense of what we can and can't control.
- To take responsibility for those things we can control, which includes our role in our relationships, the work we produce at home and on the job, and how we respond to our problems.
- To let go of those things we can't control, namely the behavior of other people. And to realize that we are not to blame for our problems, or our experiences of injustice and unfairness. This world is partly chaotic, and bad stuff happens to good people.
- To exert control over our lives in a healthy way...forgiving ourselves for and learning from our mistakes, while celebrating and capitalizing on our strengths.
- To develop a healthy relationship with the information age. This means staying aware of the challenges facing humanity, and doing our small part to help heal the hurts in this world, but not bearing the responsibility for the world's problems on our shoulders. It also means turning off the news and focusing on the reality right in front of us.
What does adult development in the area of freedom look like?
The graph below is a depiction of adult development in the area of freedom. The red areas indicate unhealthy development while the green area in the middle represents the ideal state of development.
Freedom
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Powerless Self-Empowered Overburdened
Powerless: On one end of the spectrum, we become overwhelmed by the world's larger forces. We may constantly go along with whatever our culture, the television, our friends, and our families are doing. We may forget to take the time to better understand our own identity, our own values, and act accordingly. We fail to appreciate our own power in the world and, therefore, never develop a sense of responsibility for the part we play.
Overburdened: On this end of the spectrum, we actually develop a delusion of having too much power and control. We take personal responsibility for all of the world's problems. We may become depressed by the actions of others, whether they be our family members, state and national politics, or global issues. And yet, the problem is ultimately with us. We are taking on too much personal responsibility for the rest of humanity. We must remember that we cannot control the actions of other people. All we can do is take responsibility for ourselves, and do the best that we can.
Self-Empowered: The ideal relationship with our freedom, I would argue, would be some place right in the middle. In this ideal state, we take responsibility for the role we play in our relationships, the work we produce at our jobs, and the way we respond to our problems. And yet, we let go of those things we can't control. We accept that we cannot control the actions of others. We don't blame ourselves for any experiences of injustice that we suffer. And we take responsibility for the small part we can play in impacting the major challenges facing humanity without carrying the weight of these problems on our shoulders.
