Positivity: Independence
Everyone desires independence.
Certainly there are times when having someone else to make decisions for you might be appealing, but overall I cannot think of anyone who doesn’t want independence.
Today is Independence Day in the United States. While this is a national holiday celebrating our declaration of independence from Great Britain two-hundred and forty years ago, the concept of independence is far broader. All of us, as individuals, are independent of thought, of action, and of feeling. No one can think, feel, or act for you, unless you let them do so.
Independence is important because when we are surrounded by negativity, or by people who are constantly down, or when we get caught up in deep, socio-political conversations, we independently get to choose for ourselves how to think, how to feel, and how to act.
There are plenty of people who will tell you how to think, how to feel and how to act in this life. Some are well-meaning, others are manipulative and controlling. But your independence means that you are ultimately able to make these choices, and to control how your life will go.
It is easy to lose sight of this. People are constantly giving up their ability to make these choices, sometimes because it feels easier to let someone else tell you how to think and feel and what to do, and sometimes they are choosing not to choose for themselves.
But no matter how we allow others control, we are still independent. We can analyze what we are doing and how we are doing it, and then we can decide in what areas, if any, we need to take back control of our thoughts, our feelings and our actions.
Independence means we can choose whether to be positive or negative in our thoughts, our feelings and our actions. Today is the celebration of a whole people declaring their independence, and striving to make a new life for themselves. Individually we all have the power to do this. Make today your personal independence day, and take that independence to find the things that make you happy, and seek out positivity.
Be who you are, the magnificent, independent individual. Don’t let anyone else tell you who you are, who you should be, or how you are supposed to think and feel. You are independent. Celebrate it.
Finding positivity is not hard, it just requires action. Knowing that when we declare our independence we assume control of our thoughts, feelings and actions, and thus we have all the power. When we choose to think, feel and act on our independence, and make positive choices for ourselves, ultimately we empower ourselves. When we feel empowered, we often spread that feeling to others around us, and as such can build more positive feelings. We can use the positive feelings this generates to dissolve negative feelings. When we take away negative feelings, we open up space to let in positive feelings, and that is something we can be grateful for. Gratitude leads to happiness. Happiness is the ultimate positive attitude. Positive attitude begets positive energy, and that is always a good thing.
This is the one hundred twenty seventh entry of my Positivity series. It is my hope these weekly messages might help spread positive energies for everyone. Feel free to share, re-blog and spread the positivity.
In relation to Positivity, check out my Five Easy Steps to Change the World for the Better.
