Photo by JKamal Kandel
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- Information: Uninformed people are less likely to have the power of choice. Limited access to resources Looking at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it becomes clear that resources are important. According to him, physiological needs come before self-actualisation. In other words: a lack of access to assets and resources can have a variety of problematic consequences. Resources that alleviate constraints could be money or even time. Money makes it possible to build a business, invest and become more independent. It can also buy time. Access to resources such as time, money and other commodities is vital in order to be free. Limited community support The honored expert for global leadership, Margaret J. Wheatley, is famous for emphasising a problemsolving that combines the various strengths within a team. So, build a successful network before it is needed. A functioning
support system is usually comprised of people the right ones who are able to find solutions to specific problems. If we go a step further we see that without a functioning support system it is also not possible to be entirely free. Generally when we are unbound by constraints we do not prioritise networks that carry us. Once we become vulnerable, support systems become more visible. But it is interestingly those systems that make us free. Access to a supporting network is vital in order to be free. Limited access to information As Plato once said: “Today Learner is Tomorrow Leader” It is a timeless truth that true freedom is connected to a certain level of awareness. In order to become aware people need to acquire the ability to compare various pieces of information and they equally need to possess the ability to question everything openly. There is currently a war for attention and people are con-
stantly flooded with information. If people cannot discuss things publicly or privately they cannot be free. This would mean that they have to obey orders from someone else. Access to information is vital in order to be free. This has also been stated by Paulo Freire, who ultimately argues that critical thinking determines the development of societies of either conformity or of freedom. At the end of this elaboration about freedom it should be added that total freedom is not healthy for a society. Similarly, it is impossible to achieve total freedom of all people. There are laws that prevent us from being totally free to do whatever we wish. These laws are meant to protect us from each other. Yet, societies need freedom in order to develop properly today, tomorrow and in the future. To do so, we suggest to keep an eye on three important points: resources, community and information.