Freedom vs. Control—Breaking the Cage Within

We’re drowning in it—fear, division, chaos, the censoring and finger-pointing.

I get it—I used to be right there, partisan as hell, convinced my side was the good guys, the other side ignorant or evil.

It fed my anxiety for years, a mid-life crisis of worrying about wars, division, the trashing of our beautiful planet, ultimately giving me crushing chest pains that sent me to the ER multiple times.

I’d rage at greedy corporations, corrupt politicians, the ‘wrong’ people—blaming ‘them’ while secretly judging myself for not fixing it all. Sound familiar?

That was my wake-up call to stop hiding, stop blaming, start living and sharing authentically.

But here’s my truth: this left vs. right battle is manipulated division—it’s a trap that keeps us distracted while the deeper problems fester.

The real fight is love and freedom versus fear and control. And that fight isn’t just out there—it’s within.

I’ve spent most of my life censoring myself, playing it safe, softening or swallowing my real thoughts to keep the peace. I hate the growing cancel culture “out there” because I’ve been canceling me in here—afraid of judgment, rejection, the chaos of speaking up.

We’re taught to conform, chase rules, stay scared—that’s the disconnect. I used to drown in the external drama—every outrageous or depressing headline, every ‘important’ issue pulling me in, leaving me powerless.

Yes, they matter, but they’re distractions if all we do is worry and blame. When we stay in that fear and division, we’re not free—we’re building the cage.

For me, breaking out meant facing that mess inside: the self-censorship, the blame, the noise. Letting it go wasn’t easy—still isn’t—but it’s where my purpose lives.

Moving to Portugal three years ago cracked it open, helped me release the fear, approval, the need to be right.

Here’s what I know now: we get to be the change we want to see. That chaos upsetting you out there? Look closer—it’s often what we do to ourselves.

Hate the censoring? Stop silencing your heart. Rage at division? Quit ignoring that quiet part of you that's inviting you to follow your true path.

I shifted from anxiety to hope not by fixing the world—I tried for years—but by cultivating inner peace and purpose, sharing it authentically. It’ll be a lifelong journey.

‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ couldn’t be truer for me. So this year, I’m all in—being present, real, leaning into coaching, building community, living my vision and values because that’s what lights me up.

The world’s chaotic—I feel it too. But I’m not feeding division—I’m here to spark a transformation to a more peaceful, connected, beautiful world, starting from the inside out.

Dive into your unknown, ditch the fear, connect to what’s true.

That’s freedom.

I’m done playing small—you don’t have to either. And you don't have to do this alone. Reach out, we got this.