We live in a free society, so it’s kind of funny to even talk about freedom. We have it, while many others just don’t.

We, as citizens of a free society, are often not free.

I know people who stay married to people that make them miserable and then complain about it because they are not free. They don’t realize or understand they have the freedom of choice. They can go get help through counseling, or decide to end that marriage. But they decide to do nothing, and are enslaved by their own apathy. Its a real shame.

Some people hate work, hate their job. Why not change it? They are controlled by fear or dont thnink they have a chance for a better workplace. If the wanted to with a snap of the fingers they could change their job and their career. They could change their life overnight.

I know people who tolerate cruelty and mistreatment by family and so-called friends. They tolerate it for years, because they don’t think that they have the right to demand respectful treatment. They put up with the negative behavior.

I know people just stuck in a giant circular rut because of the past and the present and the maybe the future. They blindly accept it and they dont know how to end it.

We all should be greatful that freedom has been given to us as a gift. We must then make the choice to consciously use it now even today. We have to know we have the right and then make the decision to choose to use it.

The freedom of choice is the cornerstone of happiness. We can exert our right to choose and our right to be and do what we want. We can decide to reinvent ourselves mentally, physically, financially, socially, and spiritually. A biker has the freedom to be a banker. A banker has the freedom to be a bouncer. A bouncer has the freedom to become a ballet dancer. A ballet dancer has the freedom to become a bowler. Aren’t freedom and the ability to have freedom beautiful?

Shawn is a leadership speaker and author of The Managers Guide to Motivating Employees. He is known as an expert in Leadership development For a wealth of resources and tools on leadership go to http://www.sldoyle.com