The word freedom has many meanings, for some it is simply a right, granted by governments to their citizens, for others it is a metaphysical reality that allows us to act as we like in the circumstances of life, and for some others it means being exempt from coercion, although one of my favorite definitions is that which places it as a virtue, often known as inner freedom, or also "liberty".
According to this definition, to be free we must control all the elements capable of subjugating man from within, such as fear, laziness or anger, which deprive us of control of ourselves and bend our will, and we must also be capable of overcoming all the external elements that can create in us some type of dependency, such as wealth, comfort or material goods.
The premise is quite basic, as being free is about doing what you want, and since on many occasions these elements don't allow us, they become elements that restrict our freedom and we their slaves, so it takes a lot discipline and self-control to free ourselves from them.
When we want to do something and fear does not allow us, we are not being truly free, but our will is being subdued from within us, preventing us from acting as we wish.
Being freedom a virtue, no one can take it from us, only we stand in front of our freedom, so do our impulses, our temptations, our emotions, which without the correct control lead us to lose one of the most desired qualities, becoming slaves of our own shadow.
This definition of freedom consists, in the final analysis, in that freedom is about owning ourselves, being able to tame our inner demons, and being able to lead a life as man should.
But it is not an exclusive definition, that is why it is used in conjunction with the others, we can say that man is free once he has mastered himself or that is born and is always free, but what is always true is that the freedom is one of the most valuable assets in which humanity is in possession.
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