Freedom is—whether you have considered it before or not—by far the most valuable asset any one person can possess.
This is why your passport and driving license are the two most important documents you can ever hold, and why crimes that threaten and break societal rules and legal guidelines result in people’s freedom being taken away. With this in mind, here is how to encourage, exemplify, and enjoy more freedom in your day-to-day life.
Learn How to Say No!
Most people are, at heart, kind and conscientious individuals who will always help out (financially, emotionally, or otherwise) their fellow men whenever and however they can—as long as it does not impede on their own enjoyment too much.
However, a large proportion of kind-hearted people are also far too quick to agree to favors that will put them out immeasurably, or say yes to a request that they simply have no desire to do and end up dreading.
Contrary to how it may feel, there is nothing remotely selfish about saying no, sticking to it, and meaning it; and if you do struggle with this small word, then perhaps the following tips will help:
- Rehearse and prepare confident sentences for different situations. For example: “Thank you so much for inviting me, but I have to say no this time as I’m so busy”; “Sorry, but I promised myself an evening of organizing my house tonight”
- Avoid offering an excuse that involves another social event, as the person asking is most likely to ask when you are free that same week instead
- Use your body language to convey your “no” answer before and during speech: point your feet and toes away from the person asking you the question; cross your arms around your chest when you say no to appear more defiant
Saying no more often will give you much more freedom to pick and choose the ways and means you want to help out your friends, work colleagues, and family members and will afford you much more time to dedicate to yourself and your own fulfillment and well-being.
Go on Holiday on Your Own
It may well be the case that you often take yourself off for country drives on the weekend, or you may be someone who much prefers wandering around the shops on your own, but if you do tend to always need to “buddy up” then it is time to break out of your comfort zone.
If you have some holiday days to take at work, or you are in the fortunate position of working for yourself or as a freelancer and can, therefore, pick and choose where and when you work, then take the plunge and book yourself on a solo city break.
Work to Eradicate Feelings of Guilt
Guilt is, to those who have experienced the extreme end of this emotion, one of the most corrosive and self-destroying feelings anyone can live with and if left unchecked and indeed, untreated, can turn a person into their own worst enemy.
`For those people who are living with MDD (major depressive disorder) and with guilt being one of the most common companions of depression, it can be incredibly difficult to even fulfill the most basic of professional duties or social events, which compounds the feeling of guilt, leading to a destructive circle.
Most importantly of all, if you suspect that you have developed depression (or indeed another mental health issue) you must make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible, making certain not to delay this in a misguided attempt to deal with it yourself.
Freedom is just as closely associated with the mind as it is with the physical constraints around you, and you owe it to yourself to be as free as possible—no matter your personal situation.
Buy a Second-hand Scooter!
Even though the cliché of a middle-aged man or woman dyeing their hair, quitting their job, and buying a motorbike is extreme behavior, it does indicate the freedom that owning a motorbike or scooter can give—especially to people who feel trapped and that their daily life has become mundane.
Riding a motorbike or scooter is an incredibly exhilarating experience, which not only serves to exemplify the notion of freedom in a physical form, but also means you have to be entirely in the moment and not ruminating on unrelated worries.
If this sounds like an idea that you would absolutely love to find out more about, do not hesitate to contact BMG Scooters, whose experience and knowledge regarding the world of motorbikes are unparalleled.
Aim for Financial Freedom
When taking out a mortgage on your dream home, signing up for a phone contract over a two-year period, or even arranging to pay a monthly direct debit for a magazine subscription, you are confining yourself each time to financial obligation.
Now, obviously, when it comes to mortgages and car loans, your lifestyle and personal situation may well decree both be an absolute necessity, but aside from these mandatory commitments, there are many other ways to achieve financial freedom.
First and foremost, you need to be true to yourself as to your starting point and if there are any hidden CCJs from the past that seem to have lost interest in you in recent years, any outstanding store cards, or an overdrawn bank balance you are ignoring, it is time to confront them head-on.
Once you understand where you are financial, you can then look to write down both your short-term goals in the context of your finances (such as having a set amount in your savings account that is untouched, for example) as well as any long-term related goals you may have.
After having achieved more freedom in your day-to-day life, it is as equally important to ensure you do not slip into your old habits of agreeing to everything you are asked, letting negative and low moods take over, and signing up for direct debits that are both costly and unnecessary.