Key To Personal Freedom

July 4th marked Independence Day in the United States.  This has gotten me thinking about freedom.  And no, we won't get into politics here.  Rather, let's look at personal freedom. 
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I am inspired by this quote from Wayne Dyer - "When you are spiritually connected, you are not looking for occasions to be offended, and you are not judging and labeling others.  You are in a state of grace in which you know you are connected to God and thus free from the effects of anyone or anything external to yourself." 

Dyer gives us a formula for personal freedom.

• Stop being offended
• Stop judging
• Stop labeling
• Be in a state of grace
• Be spiritually connected to God (Source, Universe, etc.)

And the result?  Freedom --free from the effects of anyone or anything external to us.  When we allow someone or something else to dictate how we feel, we are in the victim mode.  Think about times you have heard someone (or maybe yourself) say, "You make me feel....."  I know I have said something similar to this many times in my life.  And yet, of course no one can make me feel anything.  It's always up to me.  

​Don't get me wrong. This doesn't mean we always have to feel positive, happy feelings.  It's part of our human experience to feel a wide range of emotions from anger and sadness to joy and bliss.  What it does mean though is that we are in charge of how we feel, not someone or something external to us.  For example, if I feel angry, it's because I'm choosing to feel this way, not because of anything that happened to me.  Anger may very well be the best emotion for the situation and that's perfectly fine.  I'm owning the situation, not reacting to it.  

The invitation for this month is to consider how much personal freedom you have each day.  Where are you giving away your freedom through offense, judgment, labeling, or being a victim to your circumstances?  Where are you exercising your freedom by taking responsibility for how you feel or act?

Here's to freedom!
Dream Body Coach Lorie