Comments on: “Freedom From” or “Freedom To”? http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/ coach, writer, educator downshifting, sustainable living, sustainable business Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:06:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sally http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Sally Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:42:14 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-128 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? 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?

]]> By: Sally http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Sally Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:26:58 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-126 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 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.

]]> By: CarolLillith http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-125 CarolLillith Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:04:09 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-125 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. 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.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Wendy Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:47:57 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-123 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!) 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!)

]]> By: Sally http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Sally Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:07:39 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-106 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. 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.

]]> By: Climatarians | Joost http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Climatarians | Joost Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:45:33 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-101 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 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

]]> By: Sally http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Sally Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:46:48 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-93 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? 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?

]]> By: Steve Marshall http://www.sallylever.co.uk/2009/07/03/freedom-from-or-freedom-to/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Steve Marshall Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:55:53 +0000 http://www.sallylever.co.uk/?p=578#comment-92 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 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

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