Feeling Free to Love What You Do

Jordan Spieth performed very well as a professional golfer until 2018. Expectations placed on him were very high—so high that his performance waned…until last spring. After winning his first tournament in three years, he made a profound passing comment in a press interview:

If I’m feeling free, I’ll love what I do. And if I love what I do, I’ll do it well.

He hadn’t been feeling free, hadn’t been loving it, and wasn’t doing it well… until last spring.

Are you feeling free? Do you love what you do? Are you doing it well?

For this post, let’s dive into the first question.

Webster defines freedom as the ability to exercise your self-will without imposed constraints. 

When it comes to work, however, most everyone has to accept imposed constraints like authority, resources, and market demand. Then what constitutes legitimate work freedom?

Consider these four types of freedoms at work and the degree to which you enjoy each type. If freedom is lacking in certain areas, perhaps you could explore ways to get more of it…so you can love what you do, and do it well.

1. 1. Freedom is nothing to lose. Janis Joplin reminds us of the benefits of a life with few possessions and expectations. It’s ironic, since most people accumulate possessions and expectations as they try to become freer.
      But it’s just as important to remember that having things and expectations placed on you doesn’t automatically make you less free. Certainly, Jordan Spieth has accumulated wealth and expectations. Perhaps the key can be found in holding these things loosely, whether it’s your stuff, your reputation, your accolades, or your opinions of others. When you’re not attached to something, it’s not yours to lose.
   2. Freedom is choices. When I was in ninth grade, I found myself in line for school lunch behind the substitute teacher I’d just had in class that morning. I can remember her non-judgmental observation like it was yesterday: “You’re not trying very hard in school, are you?”
      Feeling safe to answer honestly, I agreed, to which she replied, “That’s your choice, of course. But every time you choose not to try in school, a door to future choices closes. You decide whether you want doors open or closed.”
      That concept of “open doors” resonated with me and provided the metaphor I needed to understand that freedom = options.
   3. Freedom is structure. Once again, a paradox of freedom is that constraints can actually foster freedom.  My favorite personal trips, for example, are ones that someone else plans (assuming they did a good job!). Going on a vacation where I’m continuously thinking about where to eat, how much to spend, and how to use the time is not only stressful but time consuming. That’s why the most successful (and happy) people usually live and work with structured flexibility—meaning, they maintain systems and routines that work, while not being overly rigid in their implementation.
   4. Freedom is non-anxiety. Many of us get stuck in our own heads. It may be catastrophic thoughts, insecurities, or lack of emotional boundaries. Living in the prison of your own mind can be the worst of all violations of liberty because we are complicit in the violence happening to us.
      As the Eagles sang, “We live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key.”

Life’s too short and your work matters too much to not do it well.

Reclaim your ability to love it, not because it’s easy or because you have everything you need to be successful, but because you are free.

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