When you think about feeling free, what comes to mind? Is there a time of day or a particular place that makes you feel free? I feel free when I’m laying in bed in the afternoon and I don’t have any plans for the evening. In that moment, I don’t have anywhere to be, and any household chores or tasks for the evening can be put on the back burner. I take this time to lay in bed for a few minutes after a long day because it helps me re-center myself and really begin to enjoy my evening. During this time, I can rest and fully sink into the bed and just allow myself to be held up by the mattress; suspended in my safe haven. It’s difficult for the world to bother me when I’m in bed. I can ignore my phone, the front door, and everything outside of myself.
My bed doesn’t feel quite as restful in the morning because I usually have places to go and things to do. This is when the weight of the day is placed on my shoulders. Laying down in bed in the afternoon when my day is done feels like a deep release when this burden is lifted back off. Getting in bed to sleep at night is a necessity, and it feels like an ending. I usually put it off until I’m exhausted because I want to enjoy a little bit more of the serene nighttime hours. When I finally start to feel too sleepy, I crawl into my bed to rest and dream. This is sensation is freeing in its own way because it allows me to experience peaceful rest regardless of what I experienced during the day. When I fall asleep I’m able to fully release my burdens and feel hopeful for a new day tomorrow.
However, I still find that the most peaceful moment lies in the in-between time after I get home. The absence of obligation allows me to soak in that peaceful feeling as long as I choose. I don’t put a time limit on this time of self-reflection and rest, so I stay there as long as I want, even if that means putting off dinner and chores. I gift myself that rest and solitude without requiring payment for anything else. This example might not work for everyone, but everyone should find time to feel free in their daily life. Finding your peaceful free state is the first step, but then you have to take the action step of giving it to yourself whenever possible. You can free yourself from small obligations that you place on yourself little by little. Allow yourself to cultivate that freedom by making small adjustments to better suit your needs and wants. Don’t ask yourself what you should do; ask yourself what you need and what you want, and do your best to set yourself free from obligations, so you can take care of yourself first.