During this long weekend we celebrate independence and our freedom. To appreciate evenly briefly the freedom we enjoy. The freedom that has been provided. The freedom that others fight for and have fought for. The privileges most of us have. Our constitutional right to pursue happiness. The freedom to hate and to love. Freedom to scroll and troll. Freedom to speak and be silent. Freedom to defend and offend. Freedom to act or be apathetic.

What are we doing with this freedom?

So much good has been done and is being done.  And yes, freedom allows us to do so many bad things. We are so complicit in all of this. The good, bad, and ugly. Allowing, enabling, ignorantly, blindly, pretending what we do does no harm.

Freedom is in the eye of the beholder.

Imagine you have an unwanted pregnancy, fleeing a country that doesn’t want you forcing you to our border, you are unhoused without food or healthcare, or trapped in a physical and or mental state of despair.

Many of us are exercising the great freedom of supporting, helping and funding the warriors and organizations who are relieving these hellish circumstances of human suffering. And we know the powerful source of contentment, fulfillment, and meaning that is derived from being of service to our fellow humankind.
 
Yeah, you and I got problems, but mostly of the first world order. Locked inside our condition, our pain and our isolation which are mostly self-inflicted. But we can “pursue” happiness. We have that right, privilege, and opportunity.

Why aren’t we happier?

Striving for happiness has its costs and its consequences. Until we realize that happiness is pursuing us. Calling our name. But we aren’t listening or seeing. We are too busy becoming important, impressive, and hedonistic. We think we know where happiness resides, and we get stuck on an endless treadmill that is headed for infinity.
 
Yes, a better job, better house, another degree, more for your kids, and nicer stuff can be worthy of pursuit.

Your happiness is exhausted trying to keep up with your emotional ADHD and your relentless economic aspirations.

Stop and let happiness, life, and your true self, catch up with you. Deep and real happiness is within you. It is right there.

Pausing this weekend and every weekend to give your happiness, the happiness you want and deserve, a sporting chance to find you.

But often it can feel like we have little or no freedom.

We have a great reservoir of freedom that is unexplored.

To reflect on the freedom we have. It is less about the pursuit of happiness and much more about surrendering to it. That is the ultimate freedom.

This is so much more than gratitude, which is in short supply. We don’t appreciate what we have. But this is about using our incredible freedom to access the breadth and abundance of happiness that is seeking us.