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Originally Posted by Charmie  "Freedom from the bondage of self" or just freedom.what does this mean to you guys? |
I think most people, when asked what real freedom is answer, "the ability to do what I want to do, when I want to do it." That's what I did when I was drinking. I did what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it, without any consideration for a sense of right or wrong and without concern for my family, friends and co-workers. True freedom comes, not from doing what I want to do but doing what I "ought" to do, which is to try to follow the will of my Higher Power, which in the context of the third step prayer is exactly what I'm asking for. When I do God's will, I'm free of the guilt I used to feel which came from doing what I wanted regardless of religious/spiritual morals or societal laws. In other words, my attitude was "screw it". True freedom doesn't come from doing what I want, but doing what I should do to be a good person, a responsible person, with dignity and self-respect. So in short, my job is to keep my ego in check so that I don't run on selfishness and self-centeredness which the Big Book says is at the root of all my problems.