Monday Mindset #2

Get Off The Running Wheel And Unlock Your Freedom

Hello my friends👋! Thanks for reading Live Authentic Life.

we’re here on Monday Mindset to take a deep look into our daily challenges through the eyes of old and modern insights, and take daily actions to implement this knowledge in our lives.

✅ Last week we talked about how fear and shame leads to procrastination and what can we do about it.

✅ Today, we’re going to talk about a controversial topic: Freedom.

Freedom to live authentically, which means:

• live up to our core values

• be vulnerable and show our true selves to the world

• build a meaningful and fulfilling life based on our deepest desires and values, genuine curiosity, purpose, compassion and providing value.

  

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I like how technology makes life easier for us, but relying too much on it has led us to feel lost in modern loneliness (never alone but always depressed).¹

Modern life has provided us with so many opportunities, but new choices have a price and in this case it’s our freedom.

I don’t like shopping, especially at big malls, because seeing all of that variety makes me feel overwhelmed.

We walk in a store or brows between online shops, we see a product that we like, we add it to our cart, but just before we click the purchase button, we have second thoughts: “ wasn’t that blue one better? Am I making a mistake buying this? Do I really need it? Should I search more?”

And it’s not just shopping, this phenomenon has spread across all of our lives like wildfire, burning down our health, compassion and freedom :

• Choosing our career path

• Deciding what book to read/ what movies to watch

• Deciding whether we need that particular product/ service or not

• The way we navigate our boredom

• And so much more

We can’t make decisions because we are lost between the piles of fancy options and forgotten our core values,

This leads to increasing anxiety creeping beneath our skin every day.

We are detached from ourselves, each other and nature, feeling alone and fallen behind life.

I was so curious about this feeling, I mean I don’t like it but I really wanted to solve the problem.

I’m kinda half way there, but I’m gonna share the wisdom from old and modern times and ultimately the action steps on how to make use it to improve our lives, based on what has worked for me and/or backed by scientific data.

"The noblest form of wealth is to abandon desires." (Wisdom 34, Nahj al-Balagha)

Quotes from Insightful People:

1. "The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." - Thucydides

2. "Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants." - Epictetus

3. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi

Action Steps:

1. Practice Minimalism: Regularly assess your belongings and desires, letting go of what you don’t need or what does not bring you joy, wether it’s a product, a thought, a person or a limiting belief.

2. Mindfulness Meditation: Spend a few minutes each day practicing mindfulness to become more aware of your desires and how they affect your happiness. Always journal after this, documenting your thoughts helps you to get a clearer picture of your truth.

There’s another way, and I’m honored to devote the credit to

Ivo Timmers

:

✨🌿Take walks in nature, and journal afterwards. Write down your ideas, struggles and your perspective after your walk.

This calms down the chaos in your head and helps you get more clarity.

3. Focus on Gratitude: Each day, write down three things you are grateful for that aren’t material possessions to cultivate a sense of contentment.

4. Be courageous to let go of what is not serving you anymore. This doesn’t make you a quitter, but it opens up new possibilities for you.

Modern life, anxiety and freedom

The feeling of rush and anxiety often stems from living a life aligned with societal expectations rather than personal values. This dissonance can lead to chronic stress and dissatisfaction. Here’s how this concept connects and some academic insights, along with practical steps for improvement:

Connection to Rush and Anxiety

1. Social Comparison Theory: According to Festinger (1954), individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. This can lead to anxiety as people feel pressured to meet societal standards, often at the expense of their own values.

2. Cognitive Dissonance: Festinger's theory also explains that when our actions (pleasing others) conflict with our beliefs (personal values), it creates discomfort. This dissonance can result in stress and anxiety as we struggle to reconcile the two.

3. Pressure to Conform: Research by Cialdini (2001) suggests that societal norms can exert a powerful influence, leading individuals to prioritize external validation over internal fulfillment. This pressure can foster feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.

That’s why I love the concept of Ikigai, we consider both internal values and the way that we can transform or add this value to the world in a way that we solve a problem and make a difference.

- Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000): This theory posits that fulfilling intrinsic needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—leads to well-being. When individuals prioritize societal expectations over their own intrinsic values, it can undermine their mental health.

- Mindfulness and Well-Being: Studies by Keng et al. (2011) indicate that mindfulness practices can reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation. Mindfulness helps individuals reconnect with their values, reducing the impact of external pressures.

Steps to Improve Well-Being

1. Identify Personal Values: Engage in reflective exercises to clarify what truly matters to you. Journaling or guided meditation can help identify intrinsic values separate from societal expectations.

✔️ I use Insight Timer app for guided meditation sessions.

2. Set Boundaries: Learn to say no to commitments that don’t align with your values. This protects your time and energy, reducing the sense of being overwhelmed.

3. Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises, to enhance self-awareness and reduce anxiety. Mindfulness can help ground you in the present and diminish the noise of societal pressures.

4. Limit Social Media Exposure: Recognize how social media can heighten feelings of inadequacy. Reducing time spent on these platforms can help decrease social comparison and allow for a more authentic connection to your values.

✔️ I have a “Bye Digi” hour that I turn off WiFi and let my nerves rest before sleep. Usually it’s around 7-10 pm, based on what challenges and projects I have.

5. Seek Support: Engaging in therapy or support groups can provide a safe space to discuss feelings of anxiety and rush, allowing for exploration of ways to align your life more closely with your values.

6. Practice self-compassion: Reflect on past traumas and experiences, find the roots to your behaviors, goals and limiting beliefs. Take the journey to healing with compassion.

By focusing on intrinsic motivations and minimizing external pressures, you can cultivate a more authentic and fulfilling life, reducing feelings of rush and anxiety, and unlock your freedom.

1. A song from Lauv