A couple of years ago, I coached an editor of one of the leading glamour magazines here in the UK and she subsequently wrote up her experiences of being coached in an article about Voluntary Simplicity.
One of the challenges she faced in living and working more sustainably was cultivating a change in perspective on the idea of ”downshifting”. What she originally saw were what she called the restrictions and negativity of downshifting. On the one hand, she wanted freedom from the unwritten rules that she experienced in her glamourous working environment. She wanted the freedom to be herself, regardless of what was expected of her. This was in terms of how and what she chose to consume, be that fashion, fast food, entertainment or gossip. On the other hand, she also imagined downshifting her lifestyle and mode of work as imposing restraints of its own – don’t buy new when you can reuse, don’t use the car when the distance is short enough to walk, don’t buy a takeaway when you can make a packed lunch at home. So, she was stuck!
On reflection, I noticed that many people, including myself, begin to change their lifestyle in this way, by trying to find “freedom from”. What is much more effective, enjoyable and inspiring, however, is to make the shift by noticing what you can choose to have “freedom to”.
Instead of “don’t buy new when you can reuse” we might have freedom to “exercise our creativity and imagination using what we already have”
Instead of “don’t use the car when the distance is short enough to walk” we might have freedom to “enjoy fresh air, exercise and some quiet time to reflect.”
Instead of “don’t buy a takeaway when you can make a packed lunch” we might have freedom to “honour and appreciate our bodies with fresh, nourishing food using our favourite ingredients.”
There’s the added satisfaction that all of the above are likely to save us some money too!
In what ways have you chosen “freedom to” instead of “freedom from”?
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This site seeks to explore the heart and soul of downshifting to a more sustainable, ethical and holistic way of living and working, in keeping with the needs of the planet, humanity as a whole and ourselves as individuals. (read more)
8 Responses for "“Freedom From” or “Freedom To”?"
Sally,
This is a great story and is similar (in parts) to the ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ methodology that I often use in organisations. Put simply, organisations can either try to fix what is wrong or do more of what is right. If you concentrate on doing things right (choosing to…) then you have less time available to get it wrong!
All the best,
Steve
Certainly like the idea of having less time available to get it wrong, Steve! Interesting isn’t it how what you can achieve at a personal level can often be translated into something useful in the context of change within an organisation?
Hi Sally, that’s a wonderful idea. Yes its two ways of seeing the same thing from different perspectives. It’s like seeing the glass as half empty or half full. Your suggestion is very practical and would help a lot of people make the transition into a greener lifestyle a little easier. It’s all in the mind and that’s where we have to conquer it!
Great post.
Joost Hoogstrate
A change in perspective can work wonders. I agree, Joost. I find it makes things easier to turn it around in our heads, as you say…and it’s more enjoyable too. Thanks for your comment.
Hmmmm. Rules and restraints themselves aren’t negative. They’re the essential foundational building blocks on which any way of life is built. As necessary as freedom, they give our creativity and expression form, structure, direction, solidity. So rather than put a spin on them and reframe them as something they’re not, I’d be inclined to engage someone in taking full ownership of them and delight in getting them finely tuned so that they exactly reflect their core values and the life they’re wanting to lead. A knee-jerk reaction against rules needs addressed, or it will resurface repeatedly (generally every 7 years or so) to cause a lot of internal conflict.
(BTW despite all internet lyric site references to the contrary, Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries was written by Ray Henderson, Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown, not George Gershwin!)
Thirty years ago I dreamed of a tipi near a creek in outback Australia. I’ve just bought the land, mountains and trees in the middle of nowhere, chosen my tipi and ordered a wood heated red cedar hottub (no electricity).
I still work, now it’s in a small country town rather than a big city … I still study but now it’s online, watching flocks of parrots and my cats and dogs have been joined by horses and alpacas.
A city friend wondered at how I could have given up so much … I was speechless!
It’s all a matter of perspective.
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for your perspectives on rules and restraints. I agree that there’s an important difference between “taking full ownership of them and delighting in getting them finely tuned so that they exactly reflect their core values” and “putting a spin on them and reframing them as something they’re not”? The key for me here would be for us each as individuals to find our own personal way of reframing those internal rules we hold for ourselves that are in conflict with our values.
The point about “Freedom From” is that, in the context of downshifting and many other scenarios, it can often be a less helpful perspective than “Freedom To”. How we personally express our “Freedom to” is then up to us.
In my world, there is something to be learned when we experience a reaction to anything. For me that’s like a distress flare shooting up over the horizon and saying “this is something you need to look at” – an opportunity for growth in other words. Like you say, it needs to be addressed.
That’s intriguing what you say about “Life is a Bowl of Cherries”. The lyrics are here on the website because the sentiments resonated with me when I was thinking about a theme and I love the fruity image visually too! I’m keen to ensure that I credit the right person, so if you would be kind enough to send me a link to some further info to support what you say, I’d be very grateful.
Hi CarolLillith,
Yay! \o/ Good for you for making it! Your lifestyle sounds amazing and yes, perspective is everything… Do let us know how you’re getting on. A guest article from you would be wonderful. What do you think?
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