True independence is not about separating from others but about returning to the part of us that is already whole, steady, and free.
In many places around the world, people take time to celebrate independence—the freedom to live without external control. In the United States, Independence Day marks the birth of a nation that chose to stand on its own. But if we look more deeply, there is another kind of independence that speaks to all of us, regardless of where we live. It’s the independence of the self—a quiet inner freedom that comes when we are no longer bound by fear, judgment, or confusion about who we are.
This kind of independence isn’t about pulling away from others. It’s not about building walls or standing alone. True independence comes when we return to our natural state and live from it sincerely with purpose. It’s a kind of freedom that’s rooted not in separation, but in connection—connection with our breath, our body, our energy, and the essence of who we are.
The Illusion of Freedom
Sometimes, what we call freedom is just another kind of entanglement. We may defend the freedom to speak our minds, make our own choices, or follow our desires. However, unless we pay close attention, those choices may still be shaped by old habits, wounds, and conditioning we don’t fully see.
Without awareness, our actions may not reflect true independence—they may simply be reactions. When we act out of craving or resistance, we’re not free. We’re being steered by something unseen inside us.
Real freedom begins with presence. It arises when we can pause, listen within, and choose with clarity. When our actions reflect the direction of our inner compass, rather than fear or restlessness, we begin to experience what it means to live freely.
A Self That Was Never Bound
At the heart of each of us is a self that has never been bound. This self isn’t defined by success or failure, praise or criticism. It’s steady and spacious, like the ocean floor that remains still beneath the shifting waves.
This self is our true self—clear awareness, quiet strength, life energy itself. It doesn’t need to be created; it simply needs to be remembered.
When we return to that self, we begin to move through life differently. We no longer need to chase perfection or avoid discomfort. We remember that we already carry the freedom to respond with love, to act with kindness, and to create a life of meaning.
This is what it means to be independent: to live from the inside out, anchored in who we truly are.
Practicing Inner Sovereignty
So, how can we live in connection with our true self?
Breathe with awareness. Each breath is a doorway to the present. As we exhale, we release tension. As we inhale, we return to ourselves.
Feel our bodies. Our bodies holds deep wisdom. When we bring our awareness especially to the lower abdomen, we gather our energy and feel more centered.
Watch our thoughts. We are not the thoughts that come and go. We are the one who notices them. In that noticing, we find space to choose.
Listen to our hearts. Beneath all the noise, our hearts quietly speaks what matters most. When we follow it with sincerity, it leads us toward freedom.
Let’s not confuse freedom with avoidance or mistake independence for isolation. Real independence doesn’t separate us from the world—it helps us live more deeply in it, with steadiness and care.
As we honor the outer freedoms we’ve been given, may we also take time to honor the quiet journey within—the path back to our true nature, and to the calm, clear freedom already waiting there.