“Freedom is what we do with what is done to us.” (Jean Paul Sartre)

Originally published September 3, 2018

Let me say at the outset that I will not attempt to decipher the philosophy of Jean Paul Sartre in this post. In order to do that, I would need to have a thorough grasp of it.

Which I don’t. I would not be so foolish or so presumptuous as to think I could give a reasoned assessment of Sartre’s ideas.

Sartre was in the elite company of other great 20th century existentialist philosophers. These were highly intelligent people who wrote about numerous thought-provoking ideas.

But I will let more capable people sort them out and put their ideas within the reach of ordinary people.

I like what Sartre said in this brief quotation. And I’d like to take some time to discuss it.

But without delving deeply into the philosophy that Sartre espoused. I think the quotation stands alone—and we can understand it without knowing all of the background.

So with that disclaimer, let’s begin.

Freedom may seem unlimited

When we hear the word freedom, our minds conjure up a variety of thoughts. We’ve heard it said that we can do whatever we want to do and we can have whatever we want to have.

That it’s only a matter of our will, our time, and our determination. It’s one reason motivational speakers can be so successful. They convince us that we can have it all and achieve it all. All we need is the willingness to make the required sacrifices.

And it’s often the highly successful who make claims that anyone can do anything that anyone else can do. For example, Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Well, Mr. Disney certainly dreamed it and he certainly did it. To an extraordinary degree.

The motivational speaker, Tony Robbins has been phenomenally successful. His greatest achievement is in persuading the doubtful that they too can be successful—just like he has been. He said, “We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish.”

Freedom is not limitless

So could someone else reach the heights of success that Disney did? Certainly. Could everyone reach the heights of success that Disney did? Certainly not.

Could someone else become as successful as Tony Robbins? Certainly. Could everyone become as successful as Tony Robbins? Certainly not.

It would seem an unassailable argument that not everyone can do or become or achieve whatever they want. Though some may be born with seemingly unlimited potential.

And some have opportunities that open up nearly boundless possibilities. The fact is, everyone has limitations of some kind and to some degree.

The world is not a level playing field. It’s not even close.

Everyone has limitations

Everyone has limitations. Some people are limited by the time in which they were born. No African-American and no woman could have been elected President of the United States in the 19th century.

No matter how qualified they may have been.

Some people are limited by their physical disabilities. Helen Keller was never going to land an airplane on an aircraft carrier.

And though she had extraordinary abilities in spite of her limitations—some things she just could not do—even if she had the will, the time, and the determination.

A man who is 5’1” is not going to be an NBA star. A person who’s unable to speak is not going to become a radio personality.

A man or woman who can’t walk is not going to set the world’s record for running the mile.

It’s difficult even for the intelligent, talented, and dedicated to become highly successful. It’s far more difficult for those who have limitations and obstacles.

Success is difficult. Achievement is hard. Fame and fortune are elusive. Doing what we set out to do has no guarantees.

There are setbacks. There are unforeseen circumstances. There are obstacles along the way. There are reversals we never expected.

With all due respect to Mr. Disney and Mr. Robbins, most of us will never achieve such remarkable success. Only a relatively small circle of people will even know our names.

The freedom we all can claim

But though some may claim we have freedom to do whatever we want. Or we have freedom to become whatever we want. There is another freedom that is much more available to us rather average folks. And it’s this:

Freedom is what we do with what is done to us.

Or as Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson put it:

“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.”

Most of us don’t have the freedom to do whatever we want. Nor the freedom to become whatever we want. But we all have the freedom to do the best with what we have.

And that may be the best definition of success there is. And it may be the best understanding of freedom too.

In his autobiography, Up From Slavery, Booker T. Washington said:

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

We are all free to do what we can with what is done to us. Whether it’s done by circumstances beyond anyone’s control. Whether it’s done by another person.

Or whether it’s done by ourselves to ourselves. We always have the freedom to do what we can with what is done to us. Always.

And what we do with what is done to us begins with the honesty of acknowledgment. We cannot advance at all until we acknowledge what has happened.

We must be honest with what has been done to us. It’s a crucial start.

The civil rights author, James Baldwin observed that:

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Facing what needs to be changed requires acknowledgment that it needs to be changed. We must acknowledge what must be faced. Until then, we cannot face it.

I like the way Dale Carnegie approached the unexpected and the uninvited things in life. When something happens to us or is done to us that creates a challenge or obstacle, here is what he recommends:

“First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen?
Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.”

It can really help us get perspective when we ask this simple question. What is the worst that can happen? It’s unlikely that the worst WILL HAPPEN.

But once we recognize what the worst thing IS—and then accept that thing—we’ve made a huge step forward in the exercising of our freedom.

Then, knowing what is the worst possible scenario, and accepting that the worst possible scenario could occur—we take practical measures to improve upon that worst case.

Not only is this wise and practical advice, it can motivate us in the wake of serious loss and disappointment. Maybe even failure. Though Thomas Edison pointed out that failure is simply the opportunity to begin again—more intelligently.

Dwell on the freedom you have, not on the freedom you lack

Don’t dwell on the freedom you don’t have. Dwell on the freedom that you do have. The freedom to do what you freely choose with what is done to you.

Winston Churchill said a lot of wise things. But it seems appropriate on this topic to cite something he said about success and failure.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

I suspect this is one thing Sartre may have had in mind when he penned these words. That there is courage in the decision to continue. That there is freedom in the decision to continue.

Maybe things are not as you wished. Maybe things are not what you expected or wanted. Maybe things are far below the level you had hoped to reach.

Whether you did your best or not. Whether there were those who held you back. Whether there were others who sabotaged your best efforts. Even if things were done TO YOU.

No matter how you got here. No matter what transpired to bring you to this point—there is still freedom in your grasp. You have freedom to be:

• bitter
• resentful
• vengeful
• petty
• vindictive
• hostile

You also have freedom to be:

• forgiving
• kind
• understanding
• amicable
• conciliatory
• restorative

Use your freedom to do what you can with what has been done to you. Sometimes it’s not just the ONLY THING you can do. It’s the BEST THING you can do.

We all have freedom to let what is done to us define us. To turn us into something demeaning, repugnant, and ugly.

We also have freedom to let what is done to us give us a clearer perspective. And a more realistic outlook on the days ahead.

We have freedom to let what is done to us challenge us to grow. To learn. To help us better understand. To help make us more sensitive, more forgiving, and more tolerant.

To teach us important things about ourselves as well as about others.

It’s been said that with much freedom comes much responsibility. Freedom isn’t merely unlimited choices and options. Freedom is what we do with what is done to us.

It’s a freedom we should always cherish and never squander.

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