ELEUTHEROMANIA: the desire for Freedom

ELEUTHEROMANIA (n): An intense and irresistible desire for ‘FREEDOM’.

Eleutheromania is not just a desire but an instinct to do away with not only the outer and artificial limitations, but all limitations, whatsoever.

Well, who doesn’t want freedom? Each one of us long for our separate territory and want to fly high in the open skies of our LIFE.

We all love our INDEPENDENCE and aren’t ready to compromise it on any grounds. While we respect our INDIVIDUALISM, unfortunately, we don’t value the freedom of others. With this attitude, we often leave no stone unturned to curb the independence of others.

This allegation, as I would call it, is sure to raise questions in the heads of most of us as to how are we curbing the freedom of others. I agree that we don’t do it consciously or deliberately, but yes, we often do it indirectly.

For example, we love to encage birds for our entertainment and merriment; we slaughter animals for satisfying our taste buds or for gaining those extra vitamins and proteins and we dominate people to enjoy the benefits of our strength and power. At every step of our lives, we curb the freedom of other beings in some way or the other.

I believe by living together in harmony with our fellow beings (plants, animals, and other humans), we can create bliss on planet earth. That way, we will ultimately live on the teachings of the famous Sanskrit phrase of the Hindu text –‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which means “the world is one family“.

Also, I am of the view that freedom comes with extra responsibility. Instead of acting impulsively, we must exercise self-control on our behaviour, thoughts, and actions. We need to observe our deeds for better utilisation of our God-gifted freedom as extra freedom with no self-control often makes us go off-track and gradually rebellious.

Freedom is vital for the growth of our soul and so is self-control. In the absence of any of these elements, our soul will not flourish on this earthly plane.

Don’t you think we need to respect the freedom of others as we defend ours? And aren’t we required to exercise self-control while enjoying the perks of our freedom?

Food for thought! Ponder over it.