What comes into your mind when you think of freedom? If you are from the US, you might think of political freedom on a day like today. Freedom may bring to mind fireworks and parades and concerts. Or maybe you are inspired to take action to assist some in your community who don’t yet enjoy the freedoms available to you. 

About seven years ago Neil and I chose as the name of our new coaching business --  “Free To Be.” The feelings of exuberance and joy and abandon that I saw in the Julie Andrews movie clip were what I longed to experience myself and were also what I hoped to support my coaching clients in moving toward.

“Free to Be” still resonates with me. I’m glad we chose that name for our business (even though occasionally prospective clients contact us because they think our name means we offer free coaching! We don't!).

The publication of this latest HINT seems like a good opportunity to reveal our new logo for the first time. This is another image of freedom that works for me, and you'll be seeing more of it in the weeks to come.

What does it mean to you to be free? On an individual level, what does freedom mean? What would it feel like in your mind and your body and your emotions to be really free? If you are not feeling free right now, it might be helpful to think about what is keeping you from experiencing freedom. 

Often we are tied down by beliefs about ourselves that have been accepted for so many years as the truth about us that we don’t think to step back and question them. 

Or we could be trapped by the expectations of others and how important it seems to meet those expectations, even though they involve our doing and being something we don’t really believe in.

What does it mean to be free in our world, in the social structures that often define our lives? Are there steps we could take to move our communities or world in the direction of our ideal of freedom for all? 

What is one tiny step you could take toward freedom – your own freedom to be your highest self or perhaps a freedom not yet available to someone in your community?

Wouldn't taking that step be a great way to celebrate the 4^th -- or any day, for that matter?