Discouragement is a major attack against freedom. Discouraged people aren’t free to pursue their dreams.
If you’re in bondage to feelings and desires, you’re not free, no matter what kind of government rules in your country.
Some freedoms you have to fight for, yourself–freedom from worry, from fear, from discouragement, from hate, from ego, etc.
When freedom ignores the voice of conscience, it gets lost in compulsive thoughts and behaviors.
As long as we are driven and compelled by desires and feelings that we can’t (or won’t control) we’re not free.
Although we think we’re free, if we’re inwardly compelled to think, say, and/or do things against our will, we’re not.
The greatest liberty is freedom from the inner tyranny of our thoughts, feelings, compulsions, and habits.
When a destructive habit, a tormenting thought, or a compulsive craving, loses its control over you, that’s freedom!
Freedom without self-control is an oxymoron. If you’re not in control of yourself, you’re in bondage to someone or to something.
Freedom is the ability to resist and overcome temptation (to exercise self-control), not an excuse for surrendering to compulsions.
When we give in to temptation we give up our freedom to resist it. If you can’t say no to something, it’s your master and has taken away your freedom.
If we don’t have the freedom to forgive and show kindness, we’ll carry the chains of anger, bitterness, and hatred.
Ego is a great enemy of inner freedom. It traps us in a prison of self-focus.
Freedom of thought–the ability to resist unwanted thoughts and keep them out of your mind–is a great liberty!
The freedom to find and continually enjoy heart-felt happiness, is much more freeing than the mere “pursuit of happiness.”
We need more freedom of expression–the inner freedom to express kindness rather than anger, help rather than hate!
Inner freedom matters. Without it we’re dominated by desires, tormented by thoughts, and controlled by cravings.
Inner freedom isn’t free. You have to fight the demons that assail you with enslaving thoughts, feelings, and desires.
When our will is dominated by our desires, we often find that we’re inwardly compelled to do things we don’t really want to do.

Steve, this is terrific stuff. I know some meetings where this truth can do some good. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Jon!
This is really helpful!
I’m so glad it’s a blessing to you!