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- The Freedom You Forgot was Yours All Along
Hello! Welcome to another edition of ABC of Mental Health , your companion on your journey to mental health.
On August 15, we celebrate national independence, but it's also a time to reflect on personal independence – the kind that allows us to make choices based on who we are, not based on the expectations of others. This week, we explore a quieter, often overlooked kind of freedom: the freedom that still exists even when life feels constrained. We’ll reflect on how freedom isn’t always about big, life-changing choices – it’s often about noticing the choices we do have each day: in how we respond, what we nurture, and what we choose to let go of.
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Journal Prompts
Often, we move through life on autopilot, shaped by habit, fear, or old survival strategies. These prompts invite you to pause and notice those quiet corners of your life where you might be surrendering your agency without realizing it. These aren’t about changing everything at once, but about remembering: even in the smallest moments, you still get to choose.
Where in my life do I forget I have a choice?
When did I last act out of fear rather than intention?
Where do I feel the most powerless?
Two Quotes on Freedom and Choice:
Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher, on owning our choices:
“Freedom is the willingness to be responsible for ourselves.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti, Philosopher, on how true freedom comes from mastering our internal dialogue:
“The greatest freedom is to be free from the prison of your own mind.”
Three TherapyShorts from TST
Freedom in Everyday Moments
Many of us imagine freedom as something huge: quitting a job, moving cities, or reinventing our life. But freedom often begins in smaller, quieter places: choosing to pause before replying to a message, deciding not to take on someone else’s frustration, or even asking, “Do I want to say yes?” Every act of choice teaches our nervous system that it’s safe to live less reactively and more intentionally. Where today could I pause and ask myself what I truly want?
Freedom Isn’t About Being Perfect
Sometimes we believe healing means always making the “right” choice or never struggling again. But real freedom isn’t perfection; it’s about noticing when we slip back into old patterns – and gently choosing again. Even telling ourselves, “I acted out of fear, but next time I can try differently,” is freedom. It reminds us we are not bound by the past, but in relationship with it. What old pattern could I meet with curiosity instead of shame?
Freedom Within Responsibility
Responsibility can feel heavy, especially if you grew up feeling over-responsible for others. But real responsibility isn’t about fixing everything – it’s about owning what’s truly yours: your words, reactions, and choices. This kind of responsibility is freeing, because it lets you step back from what isn’t yours to carry. Instead of controlling, it becomes an act of care. What do I want to take responsibility for, and what can I gently put down.
A QUICK QUESTION…
What feels like the smallest act of freedom for you? Vote here!
Last week, we asked if you were using AI in a healthy way, and the responses were… (drumroll please)…
This Independence Day, may we remember: real freedom isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes it’s the quietest thing – a softer response, a slower breath, a kinder choice.
With care and compassion,
The Social Therapist
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