I love that one of the founding fathers of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, changed the original Declaration of Independence wording from “the right to the pursuit of property” to “the right to the pursuit of happiness.”
In our pursuit of happiness, we often bumble along.
We try to make someone do something by making them feel guilty, or a loved one uses anger to motivate us to do what she wants.
Then we give up something in order to appease them.
Compromise, of course, is part of being in relationship but I’m talking about the one-sided constant compromise of rarely following your own inner guidance. Following that inner guidance can bring you happiness and freedom.
Liberty, taking the word in its concrete sense, consists in the ability to choose.
~ Simone Weil, French Philosopher, Mystic & Activist in the French Resistance during World War II.
Our founding fathers risked their lives to choose freedom and independence.
Years of war and planning paved the way for us to now have the freedom to choose our beliefs , and the feelings we feel. By beliefs, I don’t mean religious beliefs (although we are free to choose them also) but the mindsets we live by. Beyond limiting beliefs and untruths, lie YOUR declaration of independence — your claim to the pursuit of happiness.
Seize it now.
As author Albert Camus said, “Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.”
So, take a few moments to write Your Personal Declaration of Independence. It’s important to state your intentions for your life lived in freedom. When freedom is part of your declaration, you’ll be more playful, and full of joy.
On this American celebration of independence, and always, may you live in freedom. Freedom to choose your beliefs, your life, your destiny, your ‘sweet life’
Learn more about traveling to Italy on Lenora’s Italy Retreats For Women
Find out more about Lenora’s Sweet Life Workshops and Sweet Life Happiness Coaching.
You are welcome to reprint, copy, or distribute Lenora Boyle’s article, provided author credit is included.
It’s so easy to forget that we can shift our thinking to something happier at any moment…if we can just remember to! That’s the real liberty–to be free of the tyranny of our unexamined and limiting thoughts. Thanks for a great post, Lenora!
Thanks for stopping by, Cindy. Just takes some practice, repeat over and over again until we are free of the hold those limiting beliefs have on us.