How to Build a Life of Freedom, without Regrets
Introduction
Before we talk about building a life of freedom, I’d like us to confront and acknowledge a painful truth:
Too many people today are feeling trapped or held back,
as if life is happening TO them, not FOR them.
Don’t believe me?
Right now:
3 in 4 suicides in the UK are men
Only 1/3 of those accessing therapy are men
60% of Men and 70% of Women are Fearful of the Future
57% of Men and 71% of Women are feeling Anxiety or Depression
63% of Men and 75% of Women are feeling Burnt-Out or Exhausted
Ref: Ipsos 2024 Study of UK Men & Women across the ages of 18-49
We are facing a silent crisis of overload, isolation, disconnection, and emotional shutdown that can result in many leading an unfulfilled life.
One of exhaustion, inauthenticity and lack of clarity or direction.
A far cry from the freedom we so deeply crave,
and at the very least holds us back from our full potential.
We long for a life where we are free: free to do the things we love most, to live where we want, spend meaningful time with the people who matter most, to live the ‘ideal life’ as we see it. Some or all of these things, but crucially on our terms.
On the surface, it seems it’s just about creating the right environments and meeting the right people that embrace or accept our ‘terms’, whilst minimising any related compromises we feel we need to make. But it seems that many people don’t like the level of compromises they’re often needing to make in their lives and society today. Is that the real problem?
Although some of this may be true, I’m not sure how helpful it is in guiding us, I see the state of (and path to) Freedom a little differently.
Let me explain…
For some, it may be the dream of reaching a point where money is no longer a question, or for others perhaps pursuit of a more intentional life that feels more exciting, passionate and expansive, rather than one that seems confined and requiring us to constantly bend or conform to the wants or needs of others.
Despite our best efforts, why do so many struggle to find the freedom they crave, especially in an age where ideas and information is right at our finger tips?
Instead of freedom, we can sometimes experience a growing sense of entrapment.
A sense of lack of autonomy, connection or even enjoyment. As the fears, doubts or insecurities quietly stack up, we become unsure on how to take back that control and risk giving up on our hopes and aspirations, believing they were just unrealistic pipedreams.
We can slip into feeling like a bit of a passenger in our own lives, heading nervously towards some unknown destination.
If we allow it to worsen, we then observe our mental, emotional or physical health deteriorating as we manifest on the outside what’s going on inside.
With such concerns left unattended, we start to disconnect.
Not just from others, but from ourselves.
We crave connection, passion and meaning, it’s natural and part of being human.
But we feel lost, and as we age we can become more confused as to how to find those feelings again, whilst looking around and seeing others seemingly progressing along great. We can feel left behind, falling behind or like we’re missing out.
There’s an increasing number of ‘Gurus’ online firing out their steady stream of the latest strategy tips or life ‘Hacks’ across social media, ‘proven’ to provide THE solution.
Glued to our phone late at night, we try to piece the blueprint together and find simple and easy ways to navigate through, and sometimes with notable success.
But so often it’s short-lived, and at times it feels hard to see the wood for the trees.
Many choose to bottle it all up inside, or are sometimes completely unaware they’re doing so as they’re unconsciously directed by some niggling pressure.
Sometimes it’s more about uncertainty.
Unsure how they feel, unsure what they want or need, unsure on how to express the pain or uncertainty they’re carrying, unsure on what the problem is or how urgent and important it may be, or perhaps most pertinent of all…
Unsure how to ask for help without fear of appearing ‘weak’. Especially men.
I know this not just from statistical studies like the above, but from my own experiences and personal loss.
Wonderful individuals I was fortunate enough to have had in my life, and to have loved.
People who sadly fell victim to this invisible battle, as well as some close friends who are still working through their own struggles today.
I’ve also walked my own path through darkness, questioning what’s the point, utterly fed up, desperate and wanting needing to break free from it all.
We can all relate to feeling lost, stuck or facing a perpetual struggle,
wishing we had better answers, support and a clearer way through.
That’s why I’m writing this blog, the first of many hopefully.
To tell the world my WHY.
It’s because of this that I’m chasing down my Mission every day,
and why my Alarm Clock goes off at 04:50AM each morning.
I’m confronting what needs to be confronted, and building what needs to be built,
to create awareness and find ways of allowing people who relate to these challenges to break free,
and create a life with greater fulfilment without demanding relentless toughness and ‘grind’.
I found my way out of the darkness to live the life that I want to live, I’ve also helped others achieve the same,
and now I want to share some of the important steps to help guide the way for others who are curious and open to see if it can help them too.
So right now we guide those who bottle-up to open up, and reconnect.
To help them find their way through pivotal moments.
To unravel the craft of fulfillment, fueled by our Playful Curiosity.
And unlock our full potential.
Living in a way where they feel aligned inside and out, where things just flow naturally.
I believe in helping others craft a new kind of life:
A life of fulfilment, not just success
A life where freedom isn’t just a dream, but a daily reality
A life we live and look back on without regrets
And I want you to know that no matter how difficult or impossible it feels,
CHANGE IS POSSBILE.
Change is possible no matter who you are or where you are in life.
And it’s often much closer than you think.
As Victor Frankl once said, following his experiences in Auschwitz:
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances,
to choose one’s own way."
In this blog, I’ll share what I’ve learned and some ideas you may want to explore, built off some of our own Research, Training, Client Coaching and lived experience,
so you can start creating a life of true inner and outer freedom for yourself and those you love, before it’s too late.
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage." — Thucydides
"Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner all the days of your life." — Bob Marley
With that in mind, let’s dive in…
Freedom Foundations
Freedom Foundations are the core beliefs, choices, and values that shape how you live a free, meaningful life.
Without them, it’s easy to drift through life following someone else’s script — and waking up too late to change it.
The 3 Key Elements that underpin Freedom’s Foundations:
Freedom Self-Definition: What does success, happiness, fulfilment mean to YOU, as opposed to the rest of the world?
Conscious Constraints: What principles, disciplines, or limitations do you willingly embrace to protect what matters most?
Responsibility: You own the results, good and bad, because you chose the rules.
First, take time to get clear on what freedom really means to you, how it looks, how it feels, and how you want to live it.
Get a paper and pen, write it down! Whatever comes up.
Here’s a list that may help inspire you…
Types of Freedom
Time Freedom
Financial Freedom
Emotional Freedom
Creative Freedom
Geographical Freedom
Relationship Freedom
Mental Freedom
Career/Work Freedom
Health Freedom
Identity Freedom
Spiritual Freedom
Lifestyle Freedom
For the sake of connecting with the ideas provided here, perhaps pick one or two forms of freedom that resonate strongly right now e.g. emotional freedom or financial freedom.
The clearer and more comprehensive you can be with what you know and want today, the better.
Freedom isn’t something handed to you, it’s something personal that you consciously choose.
And the most important choice you’ll make is setting your own terms.
Freedom on our terms means living by the below areas that we consciously choose:
Standards
Values; and
Rules/Conditions
NOT the ones society, fear, or others have handed us.
Once you have identified the above, reflect on your level of daily action Alignment to these recently and today, and the level of Responsibility you are taking in owning all of your Outcomes (past, present and future).
Learning from Regret, and why it’s important
Knowing about other people’s regrets gives us a powerful mirror.
It shows us where real freedom is often lost:
not through failure, but through abandoning ourselves, ignoring our truth, and living by default, not design.
In the context of building a life of freedom, regret becomes a guide:
It reveals the hidden traps — living for approval, suppressing emotions, working without meaning, neglecting connection.
It reminds us what truly matters — authenticity, love, courage, self-expression, joy.
It challenges us to act now, not later — because later often never comes.
In her book ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’, author Bronnie Ware an end-of-life palliative care nurse captured the repeated themes shared by those who were soon to pass away:
I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me (most common)
I wish I hadn't worked so hard (especially among men, who often missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship)
I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings (suppressing emotions led many to settle for mediocre lives or unresolved conflicts.)
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends (many realised too late how much relationships mattered)
I wish that I had let myself be happier (many didn't realise until the end that happiness is a choice, not a condition)
Ask yourself honestly, do any of these resonate?
Now let’s avoid those eventualities, and build a life that encourages living honestly, intentionally, taking the right action, and staying true to ourselves.
The Four Freedom Pillars
1.Clarity, Commitment & Purpose
Identify your Core Values and Guiding Principles — Purpose flows from your inner compass, not external trends.
Create a Life Strategy, not just Dreams — Dreams need structured action; otherwise, they drift into wishful thinking. Set Strategies and Goals that move you, that serve something bigger than just you, that you are able and willing to commit to.
Deepen Relationships — As The 5 Regrets of the Dying highlights, strong, loving relationships often matter most at life’s end. What is the freedom you seek ultimately for? With the short time we have here, how might you want to contribute and help others? What commitments do you want to make for others as well as for yourself?
Embrace Seasons of Life — Accept that your purpose evolves, growth is a feature, not a flaw.
2.Presence: Managing Overload & Overwhelm (releasing pressure, returning to a Blank Canvas)
Make aligned, conscious Choices — Choose actions that align with your values to reduce mental noise.
Simplify & Prioritise — Focus on fewer but more meaningful tasks to combat burnout. Leverage the 80/20 Rule to focus on what matters.
Focus on Outcomes, Not Activities — In tough times, prioritising outcomes over busyness helps you simplify the load and stay effective (energy management over time management.)
Build Emotional Resilience — Strengthen your ability to face challenges without collapsing emotionally. Study and explore emotional intelligence, and how to build emotional awareness.
Practice staying present - Explore mindfulness practices (e.g. meditation) that keep you grounded and in the present
Build Systems and Routines that support Freedom — Create supportive habits that lighten your daily cognitive load.
Live Proactively, Not Reactively — Protect your time, attention, and energy to stay ahead rather than stuck. Look into how you respond to stimulus and life’s demands, could there be another way? Are they all Urgent and Top Priority? And don’t leave it to late to act! A Stitch in time saves nine.
3.Full Authentic Self-Expression
Cultivate Courage and take calculated Risks — Expressing your real self requires bravery and risk.
Accept Imperfection — Growth happens in the messy middle, not the polished highlight reel.
Self-Acceptance and Internal Validation — Anchor your worth internally to live free from the trap of approval-seeking.
Openness to Vulnerability — As Brené Brown describes in her book ‘Daring Greatly’, vulnerability is the birthplace of authenticity, creativity, and true belonging.
Share your Real Story — Owning and sharing your truth dismantles shame and guilt, builds trust and deep human connection.
4.Life Alignment & Fulfilment
Alignment — Are your daily actions, priorities, and relationships in sync with your chosen terms? And aligned with your Core Values?
Live Proactively, Not Reactively — Daily conscious decision making protects long-term alignment. Live with Intentionality!
Leave Room for Play, Curiosity, and Evolution — Play keeps life vibrant and allows authentic change. Make space and time for it each day and week.
Integration, Not Balance — Cal Newport’s Book ‘Deep Work’ recommends pursuing a life of counterbalance, not forced work-life balance. Different seasons call for different priorities, and balance is never perfectly struck or maintained and nor should it.
Permission to Pivot — You are allowed to change directions when you outgrow a path. Pivoting isn’t failure — it’s honoring new truths about yourself.
What Next?
Living Without Regrets…
A life built with intention, courage, adaptability, and connection leaves very little room for regrets.
Freedom isn't about getting everything perfect, it’s about choosing the life that feels true, meaningful, and fully lived.
One way to simplify and cut through the noise is to focus on this one thing…
Start living in alignment with what truly matters to you — before fear, pressure, or time make the choice for you.
Because everything — freedom, regret, fulfilment, emotional health, relationships — it all flows from whether or not your daily actions, decisions, and direction are aligned with your real values, desires, and truth.
When people are trapped, overwhelmed, bottling up, it's almost always because they are living misaligned:
Doing what’s expected, not what’s true.
Staying busy with activities instead of outcomes that matter.
Sacrificing dreams to maintain appearances or security.
Waiting, hoping life will somehow fix itself later.
Freedom isn’t just about circumstances — it’s about alignment.
When you realign, everything else starts to move:
Energy returns.
Hope returns.
Self-respect returns.
Opportunities show up because you start moving toward them
Take Action Now
Create a "Freedom List" — a brainstorm of everything that would feel freeing to do, have, or be.
Write down 3 things that truly matter more to you than status, money, or approval.
Declare out loud: "I am allowed to design a life that feels good to live."
Raise self-awareness: Find out what’s holding you back from your life of true freedom.
Take our FREE Break Free Quiz now and discover your next steps toward living boldly, without regrets.
And remember…
You don't have to be perfect to deserve freedom.
You don't have to have it all figured out to start walking toward the life you crave.
Be kind to yourself as you grow, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Vulnerability is a strength.
Be proud of every small step you take.
Be patient, have faith and tune into those little Wins as well as your gratitude for what you already have.
You are not broken, you are becoming.
Final Thoughts, and Advice from a Zen Master
I strongly believe living a life of freedom comes down to knowing when to hold on, and when to let go.
On a retreat once, I asked a Zen Master how I let go of attachments without disconnecting from the things I care for most. She calmly replied:
‘Let go of your attachments, pick up your responsibilities’.
I felt a shift and some freedom in hearing those words.
True freedom isn’t the absence of structure — it’s the ability to choose the structures and constraints that serve our soul,
to serve who we really are and what we really want or need.
The paradox of freedom is that it’s not about doing whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want,
it’s about willingly binding ourselves to what truly matters in our lives.
Real Freedom is found in the arena of commitment, supported by healthy boundaries and authenticity.
The things you willingly struggle for are the things that set you free,
that’s what brings us lasting passion and meaning.
Do you agree?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for reading,
Morgan