Springtime is a time of rebirth, and in many places in the world, there is a wonderful sense of being free from the harshness of winter weather. There are also joyous holidays in the spring: Easter is a celebration of rebirth and redemption, and Passover is a celebration of the exodus from slavery to freedom. It got me thinking about freedom.
An essential part of being a free person is making distinctions and searching for meaningful patterns. When we are really free we want understanding not ignorance. Without freedom, nothing is different; all tasks are part of the same meaningless randomness.
Free people ask questions, which moves them towards living consciously. We create awareness so that we can choose our behavior based on that awareness.
One of Nathaniel Brandon's six pillars of self-esteem is living consciously. The essence of living consciously is seeking to understand both your inner and external world so that you are not choosing your actions blindly. We can't feel worthy and competent if we are acting without awareness. Living consciously also involves holding to this awareness even when the temptation to close our eyes is strong.
As with all of the pillars of self-esteem it is both a source of and an expression of self-esteem. And living consciously is more then awareness, it is acting on that awareness.
Real freedom is the spirit by which the individual is elevated to become loyal to their inner essential self. Through this characteristic they can perceive their lives as purposeful and worthy of value. This is also one of the basic elements of self-esteem. The absence of living consciously is like giving up one's freedom to be true to one's essential self, and instead, being ruled by what others define as worthy.
Living consciously requires attention to the present, to what you are doing in the moment. I was recently at a diner, ordering an omelet. I was distracted, physically sitting in a booth at the diner, but mentally miles away. I ordered a Greek omelet, thinking it would have spinach and feta cheese it in. I was surprised when I got an omelet that had olives in it, as I'm not a big fan of olives. I had not really read the description. I had a moment of not being happy with myself.
What it means to not live consciously is that you can't control your life. You end up with an omelet that has stuff in it that you don't want. You also damage your self-esteem. You'll never gain your own respect for yourself if you are not honoring your own wishes, not behaving as who you truly are, in my case, as a person who doesn't like olives!
So, enjoy the weather, and enjoy being yourself-live consciously.
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