Freedom is pandemic. Choice is unlimited. So why don’t we feel free? No one ever talks about the foundation of choice. What are the simple guidelines that will allow us to say a simple NO!!
Decisions, decisions… and now more than ever! We need to choose colors, cars, clothing, food, friends, fun and how about intimate partners and careers to top off the list.
If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there in each of these areas.
If you don’t know who you are, you’ll spend the rest of our life living other people’s dreams.
Identity must precede activity. Who you are and what’s important to you should dictate what you do and how you live your life.
Without a foundation of identity or a deep sense of self to manage all of that freedom, you will feel handcuffed to the bars of “Freedom Prison”.
Take some time to consider that things you value most. Start with the identity virtues and see which one of these represent who you’d like to be as a person. Here’s a list that just about everyone on the planet agrees on as character qualities or as a description of who we want to be. Try to reduce it to a list of about 3. The purpose for your life may in fact be to be this person.
humility justice moderation
courage wisdom honesty
integrity goodness mercy
grace peace faith
hope charity
The next step is to find a good list of values and boil that list down to your top five. Go through this list as a good starting place by putting a check mark beside the things you really value. From that list, underline only your top 10 and from that list circle your top 3-5.
risk love religion modelling
speculation physical touch being observant sensuality
attractiveness influence strength serving
poise happiness inspiration growing
helping others physical touch legacy caring
taking a gamble daring grace control
encouragement energy stimulating change being present
being perceptive guiding others creating alignment development
discernment laughing empathy amusement
facilitating supporting experimenting adventure
radiance advocacy music personal warmth
coaching emotions sensing holiness governing
building imagination wholeness rules
security learning ministering connecting
entertaining directing being the best bondedness
accomplishment passion financial stability vulnerability
entertainment excellence family sensitivity
winning devotion integrity intimacy
being an example play friends teaching
being godly independence honesty
Now when you go back to your unlimted choice run every choice through the list of Virtues and ask 2 questions.
- Does this choice properly honor my character and will I be acting with integrity to my identity?
- Is this choice an authentic expression of the things I value in my life?
Limiting your choices to honor who you are and what you value most will start to unlock the bars of freedom prison. In this way Scarcity brings clarity and gives you a reliable foundation under your choices.
Stop Guessing 