Definition
A margin of choice in how to understand and respond to experience, even when circumstances are not fully manageable.
It is not entirely governed by an impulse, fear or imposed role, but is always situated: trauma, disease, poverty and oppression reduce the possibilities in practice.
To be retained
- Identifying a real margin
- Recognize constraints
- Choose according to your values
- Protecting external freedoms
Origin of the term and context
Freedom comes from Latin libertas. "Inner freedom" is a philosophical and spiritual expression: it does not replace legal, political and material freedoms.
Why does it matter?
Psychological approaches that enhance autonomy and flexibility can help some people. It would be unfair to attribute any difficulty to a lack of internal will.
- Identifying a real margin
- Recognize constraints
- Choose according to your values
- Protecting external freedoms
How can it be explored or practised?
- Separate what depends on yourself from what does not depend on it
- Take a break before an automatic reaction
- Ask what options are actually available
- Supporting another person's freedom
Misconceptions and points of caution
- Internal freedom does not justify oppression.
- It's not all about mindset.
- Choosing sometimes involves asking for help.
Perspectives from different traditions
- Stoicism: work on judgments and actions of its own.
- Existentialism: freedom and responsibility.
- Buddhism: liberation from greed, hatred and ignorance.
To go further
- Manual — Epistete
- Discovering a meaning in his life — Viktor Frankl