Freedom That Survives, Through A Pandemic & The Worst Of Life's Experiences.

A blog post inspired by Viktor Frankl. How do we create freedom in a world that consumed by a pandemic? We are in and out of lockdown, the "rules" of our life are constantly being changed, and it often feels like our freedoms are being taken away from us....

The world is changing whether we like it or not.

We have to adapt and be flexible. Not what you wanted to hear?

Viktor Frankl said “everything can be taken away from a man but one thing, to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstances and to choose ones own way”. Viktor Frankl was a holocaust survivor. He wrote a bestselling book about his experiences, having his liberty and every single thing that was important to him taken away. The book is called: A Man’s Search for Meaning. So what does it mean to "choose one's own way?"

Choose how you would like to show up today. How you would like to show up every day? *Maybe even journal and write down your answers! Something I find really interesting about Viktor Frankl's book, is that he shares a disagreement with the dictionary version of freedom below. He believes that you can still have inner freedom, despite being a prisoner or slave. Simply because these prisoners, despite having every other right taken away from them, still had the ability to choose how they responded to the horrific situation that was forced upon them. This is what Frankl believed saved the lives of those prisoners who were able to vision a future for themselves, and therefore had a strong "why" to continue living.

I know that it's easy for us to feel like prisoners to the world at times, especially when our lives have changed so dramatically over the past year. Though we too still have the freedom to choose our own way. You can choose how you respond.

You can choose how you show up each day, despite what is happening in the external world around you. Viktor Frankl also explains that inner strength and future goals are intrinsically connected. Those of us with clear goals for the future have a reason to live, a reason to show up each day, and a why to live. Therefore "he who has a why to live, can bare with almost any how".

So yes. We can still have many freedoms in a pandemic. Freedoms to have goals and dreams for the future. Freedoms to make steps toward our goals right now. Freedoms to connect online. Freedoms to volunteer. Freedoms to impact and help people when we are working online. Freedoms to meditate. Freedoms to choose how we spend our time. Freedoms to love. Freedoms to express. You don't have to sit and wait for the world to dictate how you should show up. To tell you how to live.

Get clear with your goals. Allow yourself to dream and take steps towards making it happen. A dream or a goal could be as small as to show our loved ones how much they mean to us each day, or maybe it's a wider goal that impacts the planet. Whatever it is, that is up to you. Take your voice, your own message, your own meaning, and use it without apology to keep you going, to keep you motivated for the brighter days that ARE certainly ahead of us. You can be at the forefront about making this world a different place. Simply by using your freedom to choose how you live and inspiring others to do the same. You are not what has happened to you. You are what you choose to become. And remember, you are not alone. I am with you. The Sancti tribe is with you. We are together, we are one. We will all some day soon enjoy days of connection outside, exploring and travelling once more, meeting with friends in coffee shops and restaurants, enjoying theatres, concerts, festivals, and some of the joys of life we once took for granted. Though we must be patient. That day will come. Until then, it's up to you to choose how you would like to react. Here is a link to purchase Viktor Frankl's book whilst also supporting a local bookstore: A Man's Search for Meaning Book

I would LOVE to hear your experiences over lockdown? What you find helps you to feel good daily, and your own personal techniques? Message me on Instagram @yogabygeorgia, comment below, or maybe even share in our Whatsapp group to inspire your fellow Sancti community! Sending light to you, let's do this. Georgia