The Burden of Freedom

I remember studying the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre in high school. What surprised me most about his work was that he talked about ‘the burden of freedom’. Back then I found it silly. I thought: ‘Freedom is a good thing.’

Today, in an era filled with abundant choices and in a world filled with commercials, I think Sartre was a visionary. One may not notice it at first, but freedom means one has to make many choices. And making choices takes energy. Just think how many choices we make, before we even get to work in the morning.

How cold is it outside? Should I put on the very very warm coat or merely the very warm coat? Which shoes go well with the coat I have chosen? But wait: there is no skirt that perfectly matches these shoes! And then there comes the cliché exclamation: ‘I have a wardrobe full of clothes, but nothing to wear.’ I personally have only one coat and two pairs of shoes for winter, one pair for snow and one for all other winter days. I like life simple.

Think of all the commercials one has to say no to on a daily basis. Each NO is a decision. And each decision takes time and energy. Don’t you get the feeling that sometimes it would be better to have less choice, less freedom?

I am sure you have heard of the so called minimalistic lifestyle. ‘The philosophy of minimalism is the commitment to not having any “unnecessary” stuff in your life.’ (Source: Brett and Kate McKay.) In my opinion the burden of freedom gets a lot easier by merely reducing the things you own. Or perhaps exposing yourself to less commercials, which is a lot harder, but it can be done. For example by reading books instead of watching television.

What are your thoughts on that?

Take care,
Helena Smole, author of Balancing the Beast, a book offering a bright view of schizoaffective disorder ˗ bipolar or manic-depressive type