by Nancy Oelklaus, Ed. D.

July 4 is when U.S. citizens celebrate freedom, and each year I spend some time reflecting on what greater freedom I have today than I had last July 4.

Freedom for Authenticity is what’s coming up for me this year. By this I mean

• A mind that’s calm enough to listen to my inner voice and rely on it for my decisions. In my “non-freedom” state, I am easily emotionally hijacked. If someone else says, “Do this,” I comply out of fear. If someone is disappointed in my actions, I go into chaos.
• A discipline that gives me confidence that I have, in fact, done the best I could in the circumstances I’m dealing with. In my “non-freedom” state, I second-guess my own decisions. I make them again and again. I beat myself up if something doesn’t appear to go well.
• Being free to spend time every day in silence, contemplation, meditation, or just sitting. In my “non-freedom” state, I wake up with my “to-do” list in my mind, get right on it, and suffer as the list grows longer through the day.
• Being free from shame. Accepting people as they are, not as I wish they were. This also means accepting myself for who I am, faults and all.
  

So on this Fourth of July, here is my intention for the day: I enjoy being alive and fully accept myself for who I truly am. I embrace my mistakes as teachers from which I learn. I enjoy this journey of life–all of it. I love being who I am.