All great points! I agree that most of it is self-imposed, and a lot of it is even subconscious (i.e. we often don’t even notice when we cop out of things - it’s just… a thing we did not or would not do)
I will say that some freedoms do legitimately restrict with age, even if they are self-imposed. It’s a metaphorical restriction that still effectively, literally, binds you in one way or another.
For example, it’s probably against your personal code to even consider walking away from your family. You might consider running for office, but you might not consider risking your life - because it’s not just your life you’re risking.
Most people are not really free to walk away or risk it all. Even if they logically acknowledge that the choice is technically available, it’s behind an invisible wall that they simply won’t cross without experiencing or causing some sort of crisis.
Others have the opposite problem - they can’t really choose not to risk their lives fighting for a cause, because they know it’s not just their life they’re fighting for. They can’t walk away from their people anymore than you can walk away from your children.
It’s not a bad thing, for the record. It’s just a thing. We build our lives, and in so doing, we build a structure that contains us. The same limits that we impose upon ourselves serve as the foundation from which we grow as people.
Right, I just think it’s important to acknowledge that these restrictions are due to our own priorities, and not imposed on us by someone else. There’s far too much victimhood, and I think a simple mental shift of acknowledging that any restrictions we see are self-imposed can really help with life satisfaction (i.e. grants some level of control).
For example, I have always wanted to start my own business, but chose not to because it’s too risky. I have obligations to my family, and I haven’t yet found a business idea that I can be reasonably confident will provide adequately for them. I’m still free to go pursue a business idea, I’m just deciding not to because stability is more important to me than the possibility of wealth.
All great points! I agree that most of it is self-imposed, and a lot of it is even subconscious (i.e. we often don’t even notice when we cop out of things - it’s just… a thing we did not or would not do)
I will say that some freedoms do legitimately restrict with age, even if they are self-imposed. It’s a metaphorical restriction that still effectively, literally, binds you in one way or another.
For example, it’s probably against your personal code to even consider walking away from your family. You might consider running for office, but you might not consider risking your life - because it’s not just your life you’re risking.
Most people are not really free to walk away or risk it all. Even if they logically acknowledge that the choice is technically available, it’s behind an invisible wall that they simply won’t cross without experiencing or causing some sort of crisis.
Others have the opposite problem - they can’t really choose not to risk their lives fighting for a cause, because they know it’s not just their life they’re fighting for. They can’t walk away from their people anymore than you can walk away from your children.
It’s not a bad thing, for the record. It’s just a thing. We build our lives, and in so doing, we build a structure that contains us. The same limits that we impose upon ourselves serve as the foundation from which we grow as people.
Right, I just think it’s important to acknowledge that these restrictions are due to our own priorities, and not imposed on us by someone else. There’s far too much victimhood, and I think a simple mental shift of acknowledging that any restrictions we see are self-imposed can really help with life satisfaction (i.e. grants some level of control).
For example, I have always wanted to start my own business, but chose not to because it’s too risky. I have obligations to my family, and I haven’t yet found a business idea that I can be reasonably confident will provide adequately for them. I’m still free to go pursue a business idea, I’m just deciding not to because stability is more important to me than the possibility of wealth.