32 Examples of Personal Freedom

John Spacey, April 29, 2023

Personal freedom is the degree to which you are unbound by constraints, social systems and expectations. The basis of personal freedom are the rights and freedoms provided by a society. However, personal freedom also relates to your resources, circumstances and decisions not to enter into social responsibilities, conform to norms or follow tradition. For example, duty, position and authority create accountability such that these things all reduce personal freedom to some extent. The following are common examples of personal freedom.

Financial independence	Career autonomy
Travel freedom	Freedom of movement
Time flexibility	Freedom of speech
Freedom of expression	Freedom of association
Freedom from slavery or servitude	Right to safety and security
Creative expression	Self-determination
Emotional liberation	Lack of responsibility
Lack of authority and accountability	Having lifestyle choices
Disposable income	Independence of thought
Personal sovereignty	Decision-making autonomy
Lack of duty	Educational choice
Social independence	Entrepreneurial freedom
Right to start a business and participate in open markets	Right to marry and found a family
Relationship freedom	Individual rights
Privacy protection	Independence from society
Independence from social systems	Cultural autonomy

Complete personal freedom would indicate that you have accepted no role in society, community or group such that you owe others nothing. This could be quite isolating as being a person who takes on responsibility tends to make you part of things -- a person that others rely upon.

People and societies that value individualism tend to prioritize personal freedom while people and societies that value social belonging may prioritize things like roles and duty that bind you to the group.