I've been told so many times that freedom is just a fantasy, that you can't live that way in the real world, that there are too many commitments that have to be met, that in real life things are much too complicated to be able to do what you want and to enjoy yourself.

But who made your life complicated?

You did, of course.  It wasn't society, the economic system, the people you consider to be nuisances, your parents, or anybody else.

Every complication in your life today is the result of something you've allowed to happen.  You initiated it, or you consented to it, or you've allowed it to continue.

You are where you are today because you've chosen to be there.

And you can choose not to be there.

You'll have to pay for past mistakes, but no mistake warrants a life sentence.  You can telescope those payments into the short term and get rid of them quickly.

You can get rid of bad relationships, meaningless obligations, negative commitments.  You can do anything you want.  You're free - if you'll only realise it.

Only you can choose to make things better for yourself.  You can decide to stop "going along" with things that are handed to you.  You can decide to live your life as the free person you are.

Don't tell me it can't be done.  There are too many people who've already done it.

No matter where you are now, you can unravel all the knots you've woven into your life.

You can decide to be free.  No one else has to be convinced - it requires only your decision and action.

This excerpt (p. 333-334) is from Harry Browne's excellent book How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. It's a KASS libertarian self-help book which I have been reading over the last few days, and I've found it relevant, inspiring and thought-provoking. Browne has some interesting ideas about how to run relationships, marriages and child-raising. Thanks to Dr. Goode for lending it to me.