Freedom

Freedom from the bondage of desire comes from Letting Go: letting go of things, to do lists, projects, ideas. 

The Buddhist ideal of non-attachment hits it right on. So do Taoist principles, and the modern minimalist movement.

If we don't like a movie or a book, we should not feel compelled to finish it. 

Walking away is empowering. Suffering through a project we lost interest in, simply "to finish", is a waste of time, and self-inflicted imprisonment.

Collecting things for the purpose of "using them someday" just adds to our stress, constantly reminding us that we're not doing things we've resolved to do. Giving away those things, or giving them up, gets us freedom to do whatever else we actually want to do at the moment. 

Fortune and fame, especially, need so much effort to collect and maintain. Those who have them long to be unknown and under the radar, free to do simple things without all the attention and headaches. 

Every layer of letting go unwraps a deeper feeling of freedom.

At the same time, every hangup about letting go is a thread in a spiderweb keeping us from total liberation. Some tethers, like our children, are necessary and positive. Often, though, the tethers are illusory, a product of our own tendencies to collect and plan.

Let go of old clothes, books, etc. Whatever we're not using and not likely to use. 

Let go of our past, or parts of our lives we're done with. 

Do not embark on a journey to the future laden with a heavy past.

Be the Nomad that picks up and moves at an hour's notice, following the rain.

Let go of anger. In forgiveness you find peace.

Let go of bitterness. That's the way to happiness.

Let go of regrets. We cannot do anything about the past, so what's the point of dwelling on it?

Only the present matters.