Freedom in the Box 🎁🎁


Freedom: A concept for which we have revolted, fought wars and lost our lives. But what do we mean by freedom ? Some say it is when we are not prisoners or in control of someone else and some say it is the right to act and speak whatever we want, whenever we want. If we go by this, come to think of it, is any one of us really really free? Can we really do or say whatever we wish without someone getting offended or getting censored ourselves? Can we truly live our lives without any unwanted opinions/ judgements/ interference/ control of family or society? On another note can we truly enjoy absolute freedom without plunging the world into chaos? 

After all this do we really have the independence to do anything and everything and are we really capable of appreciating it? The question that haunts us : Are we really free or we live freely in a box ??

The box that we create for ourselves, our own little world in which we feel freedom to do anything and everything without any fear. Freedom is never free nor sans restrictions. It always comes with a cost and is never absolute. Humans crave a connection and familiarity. We want a routine and anything or anyone out of ordinary irks us. We say we are free and so is everyone else but we are everything except that. We say we crave freedom but act depraved and senseless when we get it. Any dissent against our usual norms and beliefs makes us restless. Most of us thrive in imprisoning each other in shackles of societal restrictions and familial bonds. Society feels it has freedom to intervene in anyone's life and dictate the way to live or set the rules of freedom. Family takes our freedom as rent to stay in the bond.

Following a herd soothes us while anyone straying agitates us. The box becomes what society and family defines, it's no longer our own. Anyone outside that box is ostracized and shunned. We create an illusion of freedom and independence whilst being caged in a box of familiarity, beliefs, societal and familial bonds. We become indebted to our relationships and pay our freedom as interest. So tell me Are we really free ???

What is your definition of freedom then? For me, maybe it is when I don't need to apply for an NOC from the society every second . To live and prosper without being judged and questioned over everything and anything. I will be free when I will stop waiting for everyone to be happy with me being happy. Maybe then maybe I'll be truly and blissfully free.

Comments

  1. Bhasu.S.MenonFebruary 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM

    Freedom from the very idea of freedom is the greatest form of Freedom! Whilst we subject ourselves to the manmade societal concepts of behaviour and a moral code we abide by, the whole idea of freedom will be dependent. It is only when we start looking at everything we do or is being done is merely the universe unfolding itself through each of us and we are nothing but the universe itself we outgrow this concept of freedom. So our identities of who or what we are, are what prevents us from indulging in this very concept called freedom. Chaos - That is all there is!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shubhFebruary 17, 2025 at 11:56 PM

      this comment is exactly why we need to define freedom

      Delete
  2. shubhFebruary 17, 2025 at 11:54 PM

    Freedom is conflict inducing concept

    ReplyDelete
  3. Musings by TaniyaFebruary 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM

    @shubh please elaborate

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shubhFebruary 18, 2025 at 12:06 AM

      It is what everyone wants that we forgot the concept of Freedom.
      If we will not define what freedom means to us then we are not better then a caged animal for whom zoo is everything as it never known the wilderness.

      Delete
  4. AnandswamiFebruary 18, 2025 at 9:51 AM

    Thought provoking writing

    ReplyDelete

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