“You can’t separate peace from freedom because…” (Great Work quote)
You can’t separate peace from freedom
because no one can be at peace
unless he has his freedom.
~ Malcolm X, 1925 – 1965
Peter Block – who I refer to often and is as influential as anyone on my thinking – talks about his work as “giving people the responsibility for their own freedom.” I love the subtlety in that thought.
Here’s how I untangle it.
If you acknowledge you’re free, you say you always have a choice, and you take responsibility for the choices you make.
If you take responsibility for the choices you make, you no longer get to play the victim.
When you no longer play the victim, you step up to the courageous, confusing, creative place where you do Great Work. It is, as Malcolm X says, a place of freedom and of peace.
How might you be giving your freedom away? Saying you have no power, no choice? Giving in to circumstance?
PS – this article from Chris Guillebeau is one of my favourite on Malcolm X. You’ll probably enjoy it too.
- “All stress is the result of feeling as though…” (Great Work quote)
- Freedom. Money. Time
- “It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin…” (Great Work quote)
- “It is better to be a flamboyant failure than…” (Great Work quote)
- Isaac Getz, Freedom Inc
