What do you want to be free from?

This summer, as Independence Day approaches, I find myself thinking about freedom, and specifically, what I'd like to be free from at this moment in time.

Here's my top 3 (and how l hope to get there):

1)  Free from negative self-talk

I catch myself doing it from time to time. I hit myself with: "I should've known better." "I should've done better." "I'm so disorganized." "I shouldn't have said that."  "Damn, I'm looking chunky today!" And the list goes on. I'm trying to remember a little self-compassion goes a long way. It's fine to ask better of yourself, to want yourself to be better, but endless self-criticism puts your nervous system on edge. It keeps you in defense mode, and that begins to wear on your confidence, your self-esteem, and your health. If you catch yourself taking digs at yourself, stop and flip the script. Trade your original comments for words you'd offer a close friend. Be amused at yourself, smile, and move on.

2) Free from judgment

This is a tough one because we do it so frequently. We judge everything. We judge appearances, we judge people, we judge situations... It may be human nature to judge one another and ourselves, but judgment robs us of truly experiencing life and appreciating one another. When we judge, we put ourselves and others in a box, limiting people and outcomes. It can also make us think the worst of situations we find ourselves in. If things look bleak, you may find yourself saying, “Oooooh, this is baaaad.”  Sometimes, though, a bleak situation in the short-term turns out to be a blessing in the long-term. No need to judge it as good or bad. We can simply accept that it just is and deal with the present with as much grace as possible. If you judge everything around you, consider taking a judgment break. Accept the person, situation, or thing for who or what it is, and be open to a good outcome.

3) Free from rigidity

I’m learning about the concept of flow in life. When you are in the flow, things come naturally and easily, Opportunities present spontaneously, bringing fortuitous results. When you’re in the flow, you’re aligned with all the truest, most natural parts of yourself. Rigidity restricts flow. If you have a dream, for example, but you’re rigidly particular about how it comes about, you can end up standing in the way of its realization. Letting go of the “how” can open more pathways to your goal, getting you there in a surprising way.

You may also feel the concept of flow in terms of how things flow to and away from you. It may seem counterintuitive, but holding on too tightly to something can restrict its flow to you. The best example of this is money. Holding on too tightly to your money can keep money from flowing to you. Is there something you want in your life? Imagine giving it away generously to encourage the flow back to you. Abundance is always available to you—in money, relationships, opportunities, even love.

That's what's on my mind this 4th of July, as we celebrate freedom and independence.

What would you like to be free from? Share in the comments.