Limits bring freedom.

'Where is the joy?'

'You've got to treat yourself'

These are things people tell me time and time again whenever I make some change to my life. I find myself thinking - and sometimes saying - those tropes at well, and I have to stop myself and think 'WTF?' When did this become true?'. And of course, it's not true. Or maybe it is, but quite often it's not.

Advertising and the cult of consumerism has done it's work so well - and also convinced us that we are somehow immune to it - that it's part of the daily lexicon that to 'deprive' yourself of something, no matter the reason, is reason enough to not go without.

Freedom is often thought of as having no limits, but it's also true that limits bring freedom. Some examples of self imposed limits that ensure freedoms that I otherwise wouldn't have, include;

Frugality. A budget surplus is essential to creating a measure of financial freedom. People laugh at my frugal ways, but fail to recognise that that is the reason we can travel overseas so much. We're not given money, we don't have fairy godmothers or three magical wishes. We choose to miss out on many things so we can have something that it is more important to us.

Choosing to go without meat limits where and what I can eat, but it also frees my consience from worrying about participating in systems that are at odds with my values.

I can be indecisive when given too many choices - so purposely limiting my choices makes me feel happier that I've made the best choice.