Freedom, Happiness, and Perspective

Freedom is happiness, and happiness is a choice.

Happiness is a choice. It’s a state of mind. Granted, it’s a lot easier to be happy when all your needs are provided for, but even in my relatively luxurious surroundings, sometimes I struggle. Depression is a thing for a lot of people. In my experience, it’s the exact opposite of freedom.

I’ve learned ways to refocus, remember how much I have to be grateful for, and find ways to meet whatever needs aren’t getting met. Sometimes, I just need to get out of the house into nature, other times I need a heart-to-heart with a friend, complete with a lot of laughter.

Sometimes it’s as simple as needing to go to bed at the same time as my kids. Sleep is vital.

I am privileged to live in a beautiful place, in a house that we own, with two wonderful children and a good man who works hard for his family. He was up till midnight a couple nights ago working on the house—the house that has been slowly built over the past six years.

Being a stay-at-home mom was not the ideal I had in mind when I was young. I’m the only child of two ambitious educators. When I was a little girl and you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never would’ve answered “Mother.” But the way I look at things has changed. I’ve finally gotten to the place where I’m happy to be a mother. Yay!

That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it does mean I enjoy it a lot more.

Here is good.

That shift in perception is HUGE for me. Here is good. I don’t need to go anywhere. I can settle down and plant roots. The longer I stay here, the more love I have for my community. Time to relax into it, to trust that I’m in the right place, and find ways to give back.

Freedom is much more than happiness.

Freedom is an inner perspective, but it is also an outer experience. It’s something every being deserves on this planet of free choice.

But that’s a topic for another time.

Thanks for reading! May all beings be happy. May all beings be free.

(This article was originally published on the Steem blockchain.)