If you are reading this wondering ‘why you should be free,’ your education somewhere has been tainted. You deserve freedom and should respect the concept of freedom. It is precious!
Having freedom and the ability to choose YOUR destiny makes you happier. Freedoms including religion, intellectual, political, and personal are listed by many past philosophers as essential to ensure the happiness of society and yourself.
Now, tell me how you don’t want freedom for yourself after having read the basic categories of freedom. You exercise most of those daily freedoms without realizing it in western countries. The details of the freedom categories are explored in further detail below.
Happiness
Why do people migrate from one country to another? They are often motivated by underlying reasons that they may be unaware of consciously.
Just a few reasons could include economics, family life, or the politics of their home country could be less desirable for pursing personal goals.
The underlying reason without question is happiness. They aren’t happy about their current situation. It must change in some way.
People want the ability to change their situation and swing the pendulum higher on their “happiness scale.”
What is happiness?
People often are focused on happiness. Ironically, many don’t relate freedom to happiness.
Freedom is a function of happiness.
If you aren’t happy, you’re miserable or don’t care about certain aspects of life.
Are prisoners happy?
They are locked away and not free. I have seen enough cop chase videos with suspects stating, “I am not going back to prison.”
They don’t want to go back to prison because being in prison isn’t a happy experience. It is designed NOT to be a happy experience. We don’t want to incarcerate people to happy place. They would never leave or learn a lesson.
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson states that you have a right “to the pursuit of happiness.” That means that it is NOT guaranteed.
You have the right to achieve happiness at your own discretion. No amount of government spending on “free stuff” will make you happy.
Happiness is found in the freedom to control yourself. Autonomy is a big word that describes your ability to self-govern. In other words, you are the master of your own fate.
Happiness isn’t always being comfortable. You can be happy without being comfortable.
Happiness Studies
Happiness is a relative term.
While waking up at 5 am to write this blog post is a happy experience to me, you may detest waking up before the sun rises and view writing as a boring chore.
In a 2017 National Geographic article “The Search for Happiness,” National Geographic discusses what makes individual people happy in different cities and countries around the world.
There were 3 factors used to help measure happiness:
- Laughing
- Smiling
- Feeling joy
I call these “Pillars of Happiness.” These are some of the strongest indicators to the “pursuit of happiness.”
In the annual World Happiness Report, factors that make people happy- or reveal their perceived happiness– are outlined. Questions about religious freedoms and basic daily freedoms, such as eating or going where you want, are used to gauge happiness.
The data is taken from a Gallup Poll sample of different countries.
Obviously, the countries with more freedom rank higher in the happiness report as seen in the graphs below.
Finland and Denmark ranked higher in overall happiness, but remember, I said “perceived happiness.”
Multiple factors were included in the survey:
- freedom to make choices
- government corruption
- generosity
- social support
True freedom is minimal government interference in your life. Social support could mean family help, but in the context of this survey, social support is actually “government welfare.” Unfortunately, I see substantial bias in a report equating government welfare with “perceived happiness.”
While there may be isolated cases for government support of handicapped individuals or those with mental illness, the average citizen doesn’t need government assistance. Government dependents can’t function without the government’s help.
Autonomous individuals should not rely on government “social support” for their happiness because mandates and regulations on those social services are inevitable.
Would you want to be tested for marijuana to receive welfare? Do you want to keep a food diary and report every burger or sugary treat you eat to receive health care? I bet not!
Guess what? The government could implement such a policy if you were on social welfare or if our health system becomes nationalized.
Finland and Denmark have heavy social services, but the price tag is high taxes. According to tradingeconomics.com, Finland’s personal income tax rate rounds up to 57%.
That’s a huge hidden burden of perceived freedom and happiness. Dependence on government actually breeds insecurity.
The United States isn’t ranked number 1 on the Happiness Report but… I would rather have actual happiness than “perceived happiness.”
Liberty in daily life works better than government dependence; simply stated, true freedom leads to happier people.
Freedom of Religion for Happiness
Having the ability to decide what you believe makes you happier.
Freedom of Religion is fundamental and provides a platform for other liberties.
Without the concept of believing your convictions, you can’t make decisions with confidence on your own.
North America has European influence because of religious persecution.
Protestants killed Catholics and Catholics killed Protestants. For some reason, they couldn’t agree on how Christianity should be organized or experienced.
The Church of England controlled all aspects of life. There was a papal government intermixed with the King’s absolute authority.
The government became complicated.
How could you decide whose authority to follow? The King or the Pope?
You too would feel joy sailing away from the English coast’s oppressive regime. Dictating how you could worship may have been the real catalyst for the statement, “f*** the patriarchy.”
Can you talk directly to God without the help of some earthly figure (i.e., the Pope), or do you need the pope to talk to God?
Freedom of Religion is where true intellect begins. In fact, if you decide not to have religion, you are free to make your own choice.
Intellectual Freedom for Happiness
Thinking for yourself creates a purpose. You can decide whether you are happy with your life or not.
Words are misconstrued to give a false reality when taken out of context. Having the ability to discern whether what is being said is true or false is genuine intellectual freedom.
Several media outlets, government organizations, and even friends intentionally skew meaning.
You are given false truths and biased perceptions in newspapers, tv news outlets, and government-issued documents. These falsities lead to coercion and taint our freedoms.
For example, the government can change definitions to support new sweeping regulations overnight. This challenges the status quo and forces people to acclimate to a “new normal”- even when the “new normal” reduces freedom.
Intellectual freedom is essential; it allows you to discredit government mandates through your wisdom.
1. Sophistical School– phenomena (observable facts or events) can be explained by definitions
Danger: Forcing nature to fit into patterns of abstract thought- Aristotle did this when he concluded that eels spontaneously generate. *FYI: They don’t!
2. Empirical School– experiments can be done to arrive at facts and conclusions
Danger: Doing a few limited experiments and leaping to broader conclusions than the data allows. “Global warming” is now more correctly coined climate change.
3. Superstitious School– corruptions of thought with irrelevant poetic or theological ideas
Danger: Ever heard of “Lizard People”…I rest my case.
Protecting our intellectual freedom is vital and leads to happier, more productive citizens.
Political Freedom for Happiness
Federal, state, and local politics play crucial roles in our day-to-day lives. Yes, sometimes politics can be scary…. I sometimes look at what goes on and shake my head.
However, hiding from politics doesn’t negate the fact that it affects your daily life in real time. You pay property taxes to support your local school system, yet you fail to become involved.
Freedom of Speech increases your happiness if you’re upset about what is going on in the world around you. If you don’t voice your concerns at the imbecile that got in a position of power, you are not exercising your right.
Telling your side of the story relieves built-up stress.
By stating your ideas, your resentment towards your fellow man is reduced. There have been many people with grievances who did not state their case…don’t let that be your story in history!
Freedom of Speech is a preventive measure to reduce violence and extremism.
If people feel secure in their life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, world turmoil would happen less often.
The British weren’t listening to the colonists about their grievances. The result was the start of the American Revolution in 1776.
Personal Freedom for Happiness
Personal Freedom Over the Body is the basis for individual happiness and autonomy.
It reverts to the principle, “what harm am I doing to others if my actions only impact me?”
If you always wanted to get that tattoo but your parents restricted obtaining the tattoo until you reached adulthood, you know what I mean. Once you turn 18, you will never relinquish personal freedom to do what you want with your body.
Personal Economic Freedom is your way to happiness and freedom in finances.
You can’t survive in the modern economic world without money. I hate to say it, but in most aspects, having money to pay and accomplish your goals is necessary.
When the government makes restrictions on your ability to work in the name of safety and security with no data or end date to regulations, you are staring at evil.
You can’t mask that evil. You must call it out for what it is.
Personal Freedom of Movement is another aspect that determines happiness.
Have you ever been sick and not left the house for days with no human interaction? After a while, the feeling of being sick combined with staring at your white walls is depressing. You dream of the day that you’re better so that you can feel the warmth of the sunshine on your face.
Traveling and moving freely gives you the ability to see different cultures- even within your own borders.
Look at travel bloggers… numerous people envy them because they seem happy traveling the world and experiencing life’s unique hidden treasures. They post pictures of pretty beaches and spectacular vistas.
Clearly, Personal Freedom of Movement gives you those opportunities. It is your right. Do not let the government limit your movement!
Conclusion
Happiness and Freedom are connected. You cannot be truly happy without being free. The 4 freedoms obviously build on each other.
The foundation is your freedom of religion which affects your freedom of intellect, politics, and personal freedom.
Happiness isn’t a guarantee in life because it depends on the individual; however, you can find happiness in the smallest aspects of daily life as long as your government protects your basic freedoms.
The founders of the United States of America envisioned a country where freedom and happiness are paramount for American philosophy.
If you are trying to decide if you’re happy, you need to first ask yourself if you are truly free. Are you free?
You can find a happiness quiz here.
