On July 4^th the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence.  It was a historic document largely written by Thomas Jefferson, justifying the fight for independence from Great Britain by listing grievances against King George III, and by asserting citizen’s natural and legal rights.   The day was celebrated with mock funerals for the British King.  A year later, still engaged in the fight for independence, George Washington ordered double rations of rum for his troops to mark the occasion.  Today’s modern celebrations of July 4^th are less political, but still invoke patriotism and the echoes of our nation’s bold move to create a new identity.

The famous line from the Declaration of Independence has become a well known statement on human rights.  It has been used as a cornerstone for many leaders to invoke justice and a better way of life, including so powerfully by Abraham Lincoln as a centerpiece to his policies:  We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Ok, so what does this have to do with a blog about change, you might be thinking?  Inspiration.  This Fourth of July, as you celebrate all the benefits of the work of our ancestors, there might be something you need to declare independence from.  Is there something in your life that has a hold over you?  A person or habit that you feel constrained or controlled by?  Declare your independence.  Define your justifications, and confirm your rights that underlie the need and authority for change.  Today, with history as your guide, start anew:  a new way of relating to someone, a new habit, a break with an old way of being.

And then go ahead, write your own Declaration of Independence.  My daughter’s High School English teacher (thanks Ms. Joseph) had them do this as a writing exercise.  It can be very powerful (also humorous, as when students declared their independence from a sibling).   Pick something that constrains your life in some way and that you would like to be free of.  Write about how it impacts your life now, the ways in which it limits and affects you.  Then write about how your life would be different without it.  How would you change and how would the world around you change?   What will it take to be free from it?  What will you do instead?   Then, officially declare your freedom.

While forming our country required both actions and sacrifice beyond words to achieve independence, the Declaration was a foundation and a rallying cry for change.  Let your words become a foundation for you, this July 4^th, in beginning a new year of independence from something that creates a significant change for you.  Be brave, be committed, and I hope you can then celebrate your success for years to come.

Note:  Next week I will follow up on this idea of achieving freedom with a bit more serious post about letting go.