There is a profound irony many would consider to be a first world problem and that is that freedom can sometimes be a burden and that limited choice is strangely freeing and beneficial.
We now live in a world where targeted consumerism is the norm. By this I mean that the astonishingly large consumer choices available to us have rendered us capable of engaging only in those things which are of specific interest to us.
Take entertainment choices for example. There is now a whole host of viewing services available whether it be Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, iPlayer and so forth. Buried within each of these services there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different shows and films to choose from. The choices are seemingly endless and as humans we are faced with two possible outcomes:
- We could become totally enslaved to our desires and continue to consume that media which is of only interest to us
2. We suffer analysis paralysis and settle to watch nothing or suffer huge mental obstacles when we wish to watch something
These two possible outcomes are both undesirable and frustrating and are
ironically quite the opposite of what freedom should bring to us as humans who seek contentment.
Let us for example turn to social media which affords us the possibility to scroll through endless pages of content via TikTok, Instagram or YouTube. It’s availability is nauseatingly easy and a person can disappear into hours upon hours of relentless scrolling. Many of us have felt the sense of guilt and shame after conducting such a lengthy and unproductive activity. The content is targeted towards us, whether it be workout videos, cooking content, home interior decorations, pet videos, what have you. The point is that we are continuing to engage in content which is based on what we previously watched and therefore not really inclusive of the vast array of other content out there. The same applies with books on e-readers such as Kindle.
The point is this:
If left to our own desires and devices, as humans we will continue to remain in the safety of our comfort zones and only consume content which we are familiar with. If we are limited in our choices in life, then we are forced out of our comfort zones and are forced to engage with content or experiences with which we are unfamiliar. Engaging with the unfamiliar can help us develop our character as people.
This is the irony of freedom.
Freedom, in many cases does not enable us to live our best lives. Freedom enables us to remain in our safe spaces and not challenge our growth. It is through forced limitation where we become creative and are forced to expose ourselves to alternative experiences or methods. Through limitations we are forced to think outside the box and find satisfaction with the resources that are available to us.
There is a rather twee and quaint example in my everyday life which illuminates this point. Instead of spending money on books and Kindle purchases I’ve decided to use a local lending library which sits in the form of a small box placed in the front yard of a neighbours home. It is easy to access when you are walking past it on the pavement. Because of the limited reading choice present in the box I am forced to read whatever book there is available. There is no large collection or choice available to me. Over the course of the past few months I’ve managed to read:
Wild Swans – a book on the history of Chinese women. This is a book I probably would have ignored in everyday interactions as I would have most likely chosen a book from a more masculine perspective or account of history.
The Strangler Vine -a historical fiction novel set in British India, a novel I may have ignored for something more fast paced or contemporary had I had the chance.
Numerous biographies of figures I would otherwise had not decided to read.
Now that I’m limited by choice I feel that I am strangely free.
I am free of the suffocating sensation of not knowing what to pick next.
I am free from my own interests which exist in an echo chamber of familiarity.
I am free from the ignorance which accompanies pursuing my own limited interests and not wanting to step outside my immediate circle of knowledge.
It goes to show that, in a way, when we have less we are no longer restricted by the prison which freedom can create. Setting limitations on our own personal lives like this is in line with a disciplined and stoical mindset which philosophers and spiritualists have propagated over the years.
Perhaps this is why there are so many restrictions and a focus on disciplined ways of life in religious movements. There is perhaps an inherent spiritual understanding from the cultivators of these religions on the frailties and weaknesses of human beings. That if left to our own freedoms we would end up unsatisfied and unhappy.
Having limitations on our behaviour and actions leads us to more fulfilled lives, a sort of ignorance is bliss from the existential horrors that unlimited freedom can potentially bring.
rojaslionas 