Monday, June 09, 2008
Independence
Independence is primarily a state of mind. Thinking for oneself, using one's faculties independently, exercising sound judgment--this is the basis for true independence.
In our media-saturated, market-biased social environment, however, the concept is usually confined to the notion of financial independence--an achievement or gift few in the modern world will ever attain. Given this self-limiting state of human affairs, independent thought is all that stands between us and perpetual anxiety--a mental state that is not conducive to good health.
One of the benefits of independent reasoning is that it conditions one's mind to problem-solving, which in itself leads to creative, independent solutions for meeting one's needs. As someone once remarked, you can't lead a free life until you free your mind.
In our media-saturated, market-biased social environment, however, the concept is usually confined to the notion of financial independence--an achievement or gift few in the modern world will ever attain. Given this self-limiting state of human affairs, independent thought is all that stands between us and perpetual anxiety--a mental state that is not conducive to good health.
One of the benefits of independent reasoning is that it conditions one's mind to problem-solving, which in itself leads to creative, independent solutions for meeting one's needs. As someone once remarked, you can't lead a free life until you free your mind.
