Freedom usually means the ability to do whatever you want, wherever you want, however you want.
But the more I think about freedom, the more I see that freedom has its trappings.
When a person is free to do what he pleases, most likely he will engage in addictive lifestyles like substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, etc.).
It seems counterintuitive but a person who becomes addicted to drugs because of freedom is actually not free. He is now enslaved to his addiction.
Freedom from the outside does not necessarily mean freedom on the inside as in the case of drug addiction.
In a sense, real freedom actually requires restraint! Because when we have the discipline to resist temptations, cravings and hedonistic desires, we are not a slave to these impulses!
Think about. We have natural impulses:
• Eat more.
• Sleep in.
• React with anger.
• Seek comfort.
• Chase pleasure.
• Avoid pain
When we do not restrain ourselves, these natural impulses eventually becomes a habit then an addiction. Which then leads to being enslaved in these impulses.
Real freedom requires restraint.