Freedom and Control

            Freedom is a goal to be achieved via acceptance theory, because it allows people to live their lives as they so choose and without persecution. The ability to make choices that suit one without being dissuaded, threatened or outright attacked, without the denial of opportunities, benefits, rights- this is of paramount importance to an acceptance based society. Acknowledging one’s own freedom, and that of others brings a respect, a harmony.

            Freedom, is a state of being. In a sense, it is an absence of that which might otherwise be referred to as ‘mandatory’. All that exists is possibility. A free person does not have to concern themselves with the needs and desires of others, and therefore may focus their time and energy on the things that matter most to them. Put simply, it allows one to do anything they so desire.

            When thinking of freedom, most people see it in a positive light- unless they are associating that freedom with an individual or a group with whom they are opposed. Suddenly, the blessing of freedom is inconvenient and upsetting at best, and dangerous at worst. Ironically, this fear and hatred that arises when witnessing someone else’s freedom strips one’s own ability to be free- ruled instead by turbulent, negative emotions, feelings. One might argue that expressing joy and celebration for another’s freedom is also enslavement to feelings; however, to be ruled by joy seems better than being ruled by sorrow.

            Acknowledging this duty to our desires, our emotions is to acknowledge that complete freedom is impossible; we will always have desires, and even if we do not act upon them, whatever brings us to refrain controls us instead of that which we desire, be it duty, law, or ability; after all, we are also limited by our physical bodies. However, complete freedom is impossible for another reason.

            Along with that which we do, that which we create or consume, part of freedom includes the aforementioned potential, possibility. The freedom to ‘can’, the freedom of capabilities. The very existence of others limits our freedom, for we must make room for their freedoms by corralling our own. This deals directly with the physical world. As two bodies of matter cannot occupy the same space, matters of mutual freedom become not so, shifted in favor of one or the other in terms of positioning. The same holds true for the consumption of resources. Who decides who gets to obtain positioning, resources?

            This is where control comes in. Control serves as a means to reach freedom, but in the wrong proportions, is an obstacle to it. Control allows one to make decisions regarding who gets what or goes where. There may be a system established for such directing, or it may be enacted through physical force; the specifics may differ, but the end result is the same. Just as (Self)Control allows us to dictate ourselves, control in general does the same for the world around us. By practicing self-control, we are able to strive for the things we want, and obtain possibilities and make use of opportunities that might otherwise pass us by if we are careless or less disciplined. Through the control of others, we likewise open opportunities for ourselves by closing them for those others. In effect, the more control one has over themselves and others, the more they can experience(freedom), and the more they can deny others in order to ensure that they have the first, best, or greatest experiences.
            Ideally, a balance must exist between freedom and control, as it is impossible for everyone to have complete freedom at all times. This however, does not mean that one cannot live a happy and fulfilling life. We must control ourselves to seek other pursuits and garner other qualities… patience, compassion, caring. This must be mutual in order to ensure no one’s freedom suffers greatly from another’s control. To exercise a proper balance of the two, one must realize the freedoms that all people should be entitled to, and strive not to take such away. We must control and limit the freedoms that would exert such control- the ones that cause harm or take away life, livelihood, happiness, free will.
             In short, we must ensure all can pursue happiness without denying others the capability to live out their own lives to a level of reasonable fullness.