Monday, 4 July 2011

Are You Pretending to Be Independent?

In my experience coaching and consulting with thousands of people, I have found that most people are seeking freedom and settling for the myth of independence. If we could solve this riddle, I think we would go a long way toward solving much of what pains us in today's world of volatile economics and vitriolic politics.
Merriam-Webster tells us that being independent means a few very different things. The first definition, "not subject to control by others" or "not affiliated with a larger controlling unit" is workable for the most part and reflects the meaning and significance of Independence Day.
However, the next several definitions point out some deeper challenges; for example, "not requiring or relying on something else ... (or) someone else" is pretty much a non-starter for darn near every one of us. It's not until the

fourth definition that we find the real source of the problem I want to address today: "showing a desire for freedom."

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