Celebrating the personal freedom to make choices

July and freedom go together like bacon and eggs, and fish and chips. July Fourth is the day we celebrate our country’s freedom, but what about our personal freedom?

What are those people, activities, habits and ways of thinking that if eliminated or changed would make our life more peaceful?

The catch comes when we are afraid it is not the right time or the wisest time to do so.

Psychotherapist Eileen Flanagan wrote a book titled “The Wisdom to Know the Difference” and she offers some clues.

Clues it is time to give up something:

• You find yourself repeating the same complaint to different people.

• Your body is showing signs of anxiety.

• You are scheming how to make someone else do something. (This is called manipulation and it is never a good idea.)

• You can’t appreciate the life you have because you keep focusing on what you wish could be.

What keeps you stuck:

• Sometimes there is an action that must happen before you let go. Write a letter. Polish your resume. Get into career counseling. Work with a therapist.

• You don’t speak up when someone continually does something hurtful or annoying. It might not make any difference, but you will never know if you don’t tell them.

• You feel jealous of someone else’s accomplishments instead of turning your attention to what you could be doing to create your own accomplishments.

• You don’t listen to people you trust who voice their concerns.

• You angrily deny there is a problem, instead of facing it and getting help.

What are the clues you are ignoring? What is the action you would be wise to consider?

What is your personal freedom worth to you?

Sometimes there is an action that must happen before you let go. Write a letter. Polish your resume. Get into career counseling. Work with a therapist.