# How I found freedom in an unfree world ## PART I **The Identity Traps:** 1. The belief that you should be someone other than yourself 2. The assumption that others will do things in the way you would **The Intellectual Trap:** 1. the belief that your emotions should conform to a preconceived standard **The Emotional Trap:** 1. the belief that you can make important decisions at a time when you’re feeling strong emotions **The Morality Trap:** 1. the belief that you must obey a moral code created by someone else - _Personal Morality:_ an attempt to consider all the relevant consequences of your actions - _Universal Morality:_ a code of conduct that is presumed to bring happiness to anyone who uses it - author does not believe it exists - _Absolute Morality:_ a set of rules to which an individual is expected to surrender his own happiness **The Unselfishness Trap:** 1. the belief that you must put the happiness of others ahead of your own **The Group Trap:** 1. the belief that you can accomplish more by sharing responsibilities, efforts, and rewards with others than you can by acting on your own **The Government Traps:** 1. the belief that governments perform socially useful functions that deserve your support 2. the belief that you have a duty to obey laws 3. the belief that the government can be counted upon to carry out a social reform you favor 4. the fear that the government is so powerful that it can prevent you from being free **The Despair Trap:** 1. the belief that other people can prevent you from being free **The Rights Trap:** 1. the belief that your rights will set you free **The Utopia Trap:** 1. the belief that you must create better conditions in society before you can be free **The Burning-Issue Trap:** 1. the belief that there are compelling social issues that require your participation **The Previous-Investment Trap:** 1. the belief that time, effort, and money spent in the past must be considered when making a decision in the present **The Box Trap:** 1. the assumption that the cost of getting out of a bad situation is too great to consider **The Certainty Trap:** 1. the urge to act as if your information were totally certain ## PART II **Freedom from Government** 1. Don't be awed by it 2. Don't confront it 3. Don't organize **Freedom from Social Restrictions** 1. Realize there is no such thing as a "safe" code of conduct **Freedom from Bad Relationships** 1. Don't think in terms of groups 2. Limit the relationship to what you have in common 3. Don't attempt to perpetuate a relationship by contract In summary, let others be free **Freedom from Marriage Problems** 1. Don't get married - it's just a contract between 2 people and the government **Freedom from Jealousy Problems** 1. Jealousy is an emotion and cannot be avoided when felt - just bring it out into the open and address the issue 2. Imagine the worst case scenario (jealousy-wise) until it no longer bothers you emotionally **Freedom from Family Problems** 1. Be civil but firm with your beliefs **Freedom from Business Problems** 1. Contract for services rather than making them partners 2. Deal with individuals on their own basis, not as a group 3. Don't form contracts that will extend past the time of usefulness **Freedom from Insecurity** 1. Self-reliance 2. Vigilance 3. Honesty with yourself **Freedom from Exploitation** 1. Don't let people take advantage of you **Freedom from Pretense** 1. Being honest saves yourself a lot of hassle trying to cover up small lies ## PART III **Who Are You?** 1. Past Experiences: what events in the past made you completely and utterly happy and consumed with joy? 2. Daydreams: what fantasies that you imagine make you extremely happy? Pretend you could have that dream while pretending there is nothing in your way. 3. Try New Things: if you don't currently feel joy at any activities, try new ones until you do and try to make the decision based on how YOU feel, not others feelings **Personal Morality** 1. In what circumstances would you steal, if ever? 2. How honest should you be? Do different relationships require different levels of honesty? If so, on what basis do you keep that level appropriate to the relationship? 3. When would you use physical force to protect yourself? In what circumstances would you use it to get what you want? To what extent would you use it to repel an intruder from your property? 4. In what circumstances would you go to the aid of a stranger? When would it be unrealistic to do so? 5. Would you interfere to stop a fight between a friend and someone else? Between two strangers? 6. In what circumstances would you accept a government subsidy? 7. What is the limit to wish you will satisfy your parents wishes? Your friend's wishes? Your spouse's wishes? 8. How much sympathy, attention, or help are you willing to give your friends? Is there a limit? What is that limit? 9. In what circumstances should you not act sexually as you want to at that moment? 10. Are there any circumstances in which you would allow your own desires to be overruled by a group decision? If so, what circumstances? 11. How involved should you be with someone whose answers to the above questions are quite different from yours? Which of these issues involved are the most critical to you? Understand and mentally live the consequences to each of your answers and how they would affect current and future relationships. **Is Your Life What You Want It To Be?** 1. Make a list of what you do with the 168 hours each week and give them labels - good, bad, indifferent - positive (choose to make happy), negative (choose to avoid unhappiness) - active (i chose), passive (others chose) - enjoyment, past mistakes, productive - short term, long-term, never 2. Start from Zero vision: imagine your perfect life starting with a blank slate. Take steps later to try to attain various items in this vision.