What It Takes To Be Free book Summary I Darius Foroux

Book – What it Takes to Be Free

Author – Darius Foroux

Genre – Self-Help

Published in –2019

Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns.

– Tara Brach

Freedom has been used everywhere, yet if you ponder what it means to us, we will be amazed at the vacuum we feel inside. And so we avoid this question by getting busy being busy.

Darius claims it is possible to live a free life as long as we are clear about what it means to us personally and willing to put in the work it entails.

This is the third book I am reading of Darius after “Think Again” & “Do It Today,” like the other books, this one covers the subject it represents well.

About the Book –

Even though Freedom means different to everyone, What It Takes To Be shares good points on why we are not as free as we want to be, what work and sacrifices it entails, and how to plan to be free in every aspect of life.

Darius defines Freedom as “Freedom to live your life the way you want without hurting others.”

The book is divided into three parts. 1) Awareness – To know what Freedom means. 2) The price – which needs to be paid upfront in full. 3) The Plan – Make a plan, get to work, and make amends along the way.

Below are excerpts from each part.

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Part I – Awareness

Darius shares a couple of crucial points to make ourselves aware of why we are not as free as we want. As you read these points, I am sure you’ll resonate with many of them.

• Personal Responsibility – Lack of personal responsibility is the main factor for not having a free life. Every time we blame or complain, we give our power away. We create our lives by our decisions and can live however we want. Why not use that power?

• Avoiding the Pain – Our instinct is to take the route of least resistance. When we think of Freedom, it reminds us of the responsibilities and sacrifices we must make. And most of us play safe in the known zone rather than embracing the pain.

• You can do what you want when you’re free from the fear of suffering. And it turns out that what we wish to do requires some suffering. Think about it. Nothing worthwhile in life comes free.

• Lack of Self-esteem – Everyone can say they are free. But are they free? Freedom is not about impressing others. You live for yourself, and no one cares about your space.

• Short-Term Happiness – Darius claims that to be happy, you must decide to do things that give you inner happiness. We might feel short-term joy when we chase pleasure, but it’s not the same as inner satisfaction.

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Part II – The Price

Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.

– Sigmund Freud

Although many claim to desire Freedom, our actions rarely reflect the pursuit of a free life.

Darius suggests that Freedom is not accessible; we must pay the price. It comes in the form of action and changes the mindset. Here are a few suggestions from the book.

• Certainty – Life is changing. Nothing in our power can change the nature of life. To find true Freedom, we must accept that life is unstable. Adapting to change is absolute Freedom.

• Comfort – Merely accepting uncertainty is not enough; we have to strengthen ourselves by giving up comfort, too. If you commit yourself to growth and improving your life, you will suffer.

• Lies – You don’t have to lie about who you are, what you like, and what you do. Just be yourself. So be it if the price of being honest is judgment or sadness. You’ll still be accessible. That’s the real prize.

• Fearing Money – While it is true that money is required to lead a life, the fear of running out of money all the time is unhealthy. Becoming financially free takes time and effort.

• Mindless Entertainment – Entertainment and pleasure are cheap; everyone can be entertained and have fun. In contrast, Freedom is expensive. Not everyone can pay or is willing to pay the price.

• Debt – Darius suggests that one should avoid debt at all costs and pay it off if one has accumulated for any reason. Having debt will keep you tied up in work, a life you despise.

• Don’t be attached to your ideas – Many people defend their beliefs because they become theirs. When someone attacks their ideas, they feel they are attacked. They need to protect themselves. That’s the opposite of being free.

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Part III – The Freedom Plan

“Ideas are great, but useless without execution. Life is full of challenges, and positive thinking alone will not help you, but preparation will.“

– Darius Foroux

Darius emphasizes the idea of having a freedom plan and shares good views one may consider putting into the freedom plan.

• Identify Core Values – Darius suggests that we must determine our core values, what we stand for, and what drives our actions. Even if you can’t get around this in one sitting, it’s OK. Please write it down—this will be of great help.

• I can always Technique – This is one of the best techniques to reduce uncertainty and eliminate unnecessary worries. It works like thinking of an “if, then” scenario.

• Set Goals for Every Area of Life – If you’re committed to Freedom, you’re pursuing the highest achievable goal in life. Set goals weekly, monthly, yearly, three years, five years. It’s OK if you can’t think of it immediately. The idea of having dreams is to get you started.

• Build Freedom Fund – Even though the best things in life are free, food and shelter are not. We need money but shouldn’t fear it. Begin from where you are.

• Declutter Your Life – This is one of the most essential requirements of free life. This applies equally to material as well as mindset. You may consider reading the book Declutter Your Mind for this purpose.

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I have also created a video of a few quotes from the book. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel self-help books quotes- Myread4change –

Conclusion –

As you complete reading what it takes to be free, you will be equipped to ask the right questions to define Freedom, be Inspired to pay the price and have fair guidance on laying out the freedom plan. Do read the book.

If you like this book, you may also like Unf*ck Yourself.

You may consider following the author Darius Foroux and his work on his Blog. I am a regular reader, and I highly recommend it.

I hope this book summary helped you in some way. Please share your thoughts in the comments. I would love to hear from you.

I wish you the strength to pursue Freedom.

Muzammil