Freedom & Security

What Your Choice Reveals About You

Freedom & Security. Image by Freepik.com

Yes, everyone is different, unique and special. We have established that. But we live in a society, which means certain frameworks apply to all of us. They also explain a lot and help us understand each other better. The duality of freedom and security is exactly that. It represents the opposing, yet very important elements and you can tell who a person is by examining their preference for these core virtues. Usually, most people strike a balance somewhere in between, some radically lean towards one of these. I am not here to tell you what is good or bad. It is up to your individual choice. However, by making this choice we are shaping our reality and when we zoom out, the society itself. It transfers to our fundamental decisions about the direction of our lives and designs our daily experiences. How? Hang on and I will expand on this. But first…

Success to me is only two things: happiness and stability.

—Kehlani

Let’s talk security first. These folks love the idea of a fair world. They have invented social security, use all the insurance services, love their 9 to 5 and have a stable income. For them, interactions should be predictable, have a pre-established agenda and be constrained by certain behavioural protocols. Things are neat and compartmentalized in their world. They usually prefer a controlled environment, discipline, routine and know how the world works. When it comes to authority, they love it. The more rules, the better. It enables them to feel safe because now they know what to do with their lives. How do we behave to be perceived as normal? What to despise and criticise? What is virtuous and admirable? These people then it is all laid out in a understandable manner. If a new question arises, they simply ask the authority for directions. If they do not agree, they discuss and come to certain common ideologies. The radical ones are not even questioning, they follow. It makes them feel safe and avoid personal responsibility. In general, they do well in life. At least from the outer perspective.

Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.
— Steve Jobs

This should sound familiar if you are using the Mac. Yes, we can say that the opposite group can be attributed to the PC world. And the ones who love freedom above all else are into gadgets with a fruit logo. So what about them? Well, just like the quote said, these folks are the wild card. They tend to think for themselves and build their own systems. Some went into the rabbit hole and discovered fundamental truths about life, themselves and have a deep sense of knowing who they are, and what is right or wrong. At least when they don’t, they are not asking others but trying to figure it out by themselves. Generally, freedom-seeking is a great place to be and I prefer this. However, not all people who love freedom are geniuses. Some are real troublemakers and lack discipline and integrity within society. Which puts them on the fringe and does not help them to self-actualise.

Using the framework of freedom and security explains a lot about the processes in the world as well as the actions of others. One type is more applicable to certain occupations, social groups, yes genders as well, and cultures or geographical locations. You can identify the type early on and it allows you to predict their future actions quite accurately. Also, it helps to guess their preferences for certain ideologies and opinions, content, products and service selections. Fundamentally, it allows you to understand who they really are deep down. Which is crucial when shit hits the fan.

There is no better side to this dichotomy. Much like the interplay between freedom and security is essential in our lives, so too is the presence of diverse people in society. It is a balance. The key in this is knowing where you belong. This self-awareness fosters personal growth, helps you reach your full potential, and leads to true self-fulfillment. We each carve out our own niche within this balance—differently, uniquely, according to individual preferences and insights. Many of us intuitively know where we stand. I hope you enjoy the sweet spot you have found for yourself.