Stop Waiting for Freedom: 3 Ways to Break Free Right Now

What if freedom isn’t about quitting your job to live on a beach in Costa Rica but actually about what’s happening in your mind?

Sure, money freedom and time freedom sound great, but what if real freedom is about inner peace—not being a hostage to your own thoughts, stress, or that imaginary board of directors in your head judging your every move?

I have struggled with people pleasing and FOPO (fear of people’s opinions) my whole life. I needed to take action, de-stress, release the fear (and cortisol) and find my inner peace – any way possible!

There is nothing you need to get, do or be in order to be happy. We have spent our entire lives learning to be unhappy – that is the plot twist.

The first step to true freedom is noticing where you’re trapped. Is it in your schedule? Your spending habits? Your need to people-please? Write down one thing that makes you feel caged and ask yourself: Is this real, or is it just a story I keep telling myself? Spoiler alert: It’s usually a story. And the good news? You can rewrite it.

Now, let’s talk about letting go. Not in the "sell all your stuff and move to Bali" way (unless that’s your thing), but in the way that frees up mental and emotional real estate.

One of the best ways to get there? Meditation.

Before you roll your eyes—try this: Set a timer for three minutes, close your eyes, and breathe. When thoughts pop in (which they will), imagine them as emails you’re choosing not to open. Inner peace doesn’t mean thoughts disappear; it means you stop giving them VIP access to your brain. If you want a masterclass in letting go, check out Srikumar Rao’s TED Talk "Plug into Your Hard-Wired Happiness." He talks about dropping the illusion of control and learning to be happy no matter what life throws at you.

Lastly, let’s bring in joyful rebellion. If freedom is about inner peace, then why are we still following rules we never agreed to?

Give yourself permission to do something ridiculous but freeing. Take a two-hour lunch break just because. Dance in your kitchen for no reason. Take a Tuesday off for no reason. Politely ignore an email until tomorrow (gasp!).

The goal is to remind yourself that you’re in charge of your own life. The real flex? Designing a life where you’re not waiting for freedom—you’re living it right now.