Embracing Freedom: How to Create the Reality You Desire
Archita and Olivia are exploring the concept of freedom and how to create the reality you desire. We are moving away from a “freedom from” mindset and embracing a “freedom to” mindset. We have the freedom to create new things. It is from this mindset that you can create the reality you desire.
Read on to find out how you can embrace true freedom and self-empowerment.
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1) The Concept of “Freedom From” vs. “Freedom To”
There is so much power in the idea of freedom with regard to “escaping” from a role, boss, environment, or some other situation.
“Sometimes we get so fixated on utilizing and creating this like elemental force and energy to escape and to run away [...] that we don't recognize that once we have gone through that ‘freedom from’ we have to really shift and identify a different energy towards ‘freedom to create’ and ‘freedom to do’ which requires a 180 degree shift.” - Archita Fritz
If you don’t shift from a “freedom from” mindset to a “freedom to” mindset, you will constantly be living in a space of running away and escaping.
“It's taken me two years since I left the corporate world to finally recognize that I need to let go of that ‘freedom from’ energy that was necessary at that time to work towards a ‘freedom to’ energy.” - Archita Fritz
What are you going to create now that you have escaped?
One of Archita’s friends visualized this concept for her:
When you are escaping, it is like removing chains. However, you still don’t have the wings to fly away. It’s the mentality of “freedom to” that builds the wings.
“My friend said that her breakthrough came when she stopped focusing on what she wanted to escape and started imagining what she wanted to create.” - Archita Fritz
2) How to Create Your Dream Life
So often the clients that Olivia coaches are fixated on the external environment that is prompting them to escape.
“What we should be saying is, what do I want? What does my ideal life look like?” - Oliva Cream
You need to shift away from the external stimulus and rather focus on creating the goals that you want to work towards.
“If your focus is always on things that are external to you, you're being pushed and pulled by your environment, you are not in control of your own fate.” - Olivia Cream
If you are in a toxic environment that you need to escape from, while you are working to escape, take the time to work out where you are going to go once you have escaped.
“Otherwise what happens is you might jump out of the frying pot and into the fire. You escaped one thing, but then you just jumped into something that is exactly the same as what you just ran from.” - Olivia Cream
You are the architect of your life.
“What are you building? Because everything else falls into the noise bracket.” - Olivia Cream
There is power in taking a strategic pause and figuring out where you want to go and what future you want to create.
“As a former engineer, I like to be very tactical. I like my plans. It's sometimes so hard [...] to stop and say, let me dream, let me create.” - Olivia Cream
What is it that you are trying to build?
Where are you headed?
“It's so much more comfortable to look at our environment and say, I don't like this, I don't like that, I want to escape these things, instead of creating or designing our lives.” - Olivia Cream
Archita “escaped” corporate two years ago.
With every client she has taken on since then she has been hyper-fixated on boundaries, managing her energy, and paying close attention to situations that may appear toxic.
“I'd be watching for all of these things that are all reactionary patterns.” - Archita Fritz
Only recently has Archita had a realization about this behavior.
“I thought the whole time that I was creating something because I was putting pen to paper and asking myself what kind of life I wanted to lead. It was very deliberate.” - Archita Fritz
It was a life Archita wanted to lead but it was a life created from the mindset of escape.
“Now when I put pen to paper and ask myself what life I want to lead it is going to be from the perspective of ‘freedom to’.” - Archita Fritz
Archita is now focused on what she wants to build rather than what she wants to escape from.
“You said that you were designing your life, but from a reactionary lens. It's the reaction that is really the cornerstone of the difference between escaping from and escaping to.” - Olivia Cream
If you have already done the work to design your life, reflect on if it was done in a reactionary way.
“Examine if you are responding to something or if you are truly creating something from scratch” - Olivia Cream
3) How to Recognize Your Patterns
A strategic pause is essential to identify how you want to define a new beginning. They are also key for recognizing your patterns (both good and bad).
“For people like us who are always in motion, those strategic pauses are so important because it allows you the opportunity to spot your own patterns. We as humans are so good at spotting patterns in other people and in our external environment, but our own patterns tend to elude us.” - Olivia Cream
Part of the magic that we’re building here is to know thyself.
“If you know yourself, your good habits, your bad habits, your strengths, your weaknesses, if you are super clear with yourself about who and what you are, no one in your external environment can tell you anything that's going to rattle your cage because you already know yourself.” - Olivia Cream
This is why being self-aware about your own patterns is so important.
“When you start to notice that the patterns keep repeating themselves, you can say, this is the third time I've fallen back into this trap, what is the universe trying to tell me?” - Olivia Cream
When you keep experiencing the same pattern, it’s time to pause and try to understand what is preventing you from getting to that next level of success.
“Those pauses [...] are so critical because the universe will keep sending you your old patterns back to test you essentially, to see if you have graduated yourself through that particular situation.” - Archita Fritz
Here are some journal prompts to help you spot workplace patterns:
Do you tend to procrastinate on certain tasks or projects?
Have you noticed any specific triggers that lead to feeling overwhelmed or stressed at work?
How do you typically react to feedback or criticism from colleagues or supervisors?
Are there recurring thoughts or beliefs that hold you back from taking on new challenges or opportunities?
Do you find yourself getting stuck in similar problems or obstacles within your role?
How do you prioritize your tasks and responsibilities, and do you see any patterns in how you allocate your time?
Are there certain situations or interactions with colleagues that consistently bring up negative emotions or reactions in you?
Do you tend to handle conflicts or disagreements in a similar way each time, and if so, how effective is this approach?
Have you identified any patterns in how you communicate with others, such as being more assertive or passive in certain situations?
Are there areas of your work where you consistently excel, and if so, what patterns or strategies contribute to your success in those areas?
4) The Value of Intentionally Creating Positive Experiences
Partners in Leadership did a model called the Results Pyramid.
At the base of the pyramid is people's experiences. Those experiences then drive your beliefs. Once you form your beliefs, your actions tend to align with those beliefs.
“The only way your brain knows how to navigate these circumstances is if we intentionally create different experiences. This is why it is so important that you get out of toxic environments as soon as humanly possible.” - Olivia Cream
Every day that you are in a toxic environment, you are creating experiences that then reinforce a belief in your head that you’re not worthy.
You have to put a stop to that feedback loop.
“It's been two years since you left corporate Archita and you're still trying to create different neural loops because that experience was so profoundly impactful to you.” - Olivia Cream
Archita chose to share this story about her journey after corporate to emphasize that this journey is not linear.
“What we are sharing here is tools. Tools you can lean on when you do fall back into the cycle.” -Archita Fritz
In addition to tools, Archita and Olivia are also sharing transparency.
“You don't know what you don't know. If you don't know that this is a pattern, you wouldn't be looking for it. [...] Sometimes it takes hearing something like this [...] to realize that it's a pattern and then we provide the tool to get you out of it.” - Olivia Cream
A lot of people don’t even realize that they’re in this feedback loop. The first step to getting out of the loop is to realize that you are in one.
5) Taking Courageous Steps Forward
There is a critical part of creating your dream reality that Archita and Olivia cannot help you with.
Courage.
“You have to decide you no longer want this for yourself and come hell or high water, you are going to move through this experience onto greener pastures.” - Olivia Cream
There are likely going to be some uncomfortable conversations during this process. You may have to take some risks that you're not used to taking.
“You may have to step out on faith knowing that your dream is out there, but you're not exactly sure how to step your way through it.” - Olivia Cream
This all requires courage.
“It's going to take courage to step out of a toxic situation but I promise you, glory is on the other side.” - Olivia Cream
If you enjoyed this conversation, here are a few more episodes you might like:
Episode 81: The Power of Dreaming Big and Setting Audacious Goals
Episode 78: Finding Alignment, Understanding Priorities & Taking Control of Your Goals
Episode 53: Embracing Fear and the Power of Imperfect Action
To hear the full conversation, scroll all the way up and tune into episode 85.
About The Hosts: Archita And Olivia
ARCHITA
Archita Sivakumar Fritz is the Host and Producer of the Embracing Only Podcast. Archita is a MedTech and Life Science Strategist. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice for her insights into product strategy and nonprofit management, and the creation of inclusive cultures that champion a 'speak up' philosophy.
Following a successful 19+ year corporate career she now helps C Suite across organizations as a Fractional Product Marketing Leader through her company Ready Set Bold.
She works with individuals with 10+ years of corporate experience to find new paths away from toxic or underappreciative environments, enabling both personal fulfillment and broader organizational impact.
→ Grab your FREE resource to build your career transition here: https://embracingonly.com/cubicle-escape-blueprint
→ If you want to work with Archita you can reach out to her here: www.architafritz.com
→ Book her as a speaker, moderator, or coach for your next company event or workshop.
OLIVIA
Olivia Grant Cream is the host and producer of the Embracing Only podcast. Nothing makes her happier than providing a platform to women who are changing the world.
Olivia is a proud US Veteran and HR Leader who is passionate about changing the face of corporate America by helping underrepresented people reclaim their power and live the life of their dreams.
She is an advocate for transitioning military members seeking second careers in the corporate landscape.
Olivia is a proud Jamaican and enjoys mentoring, coaching, classic cars, and nature. The way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
→ You can work with Olivia here: www.oliviacre
→ Book her as a keynote speaker or moderator for your next ERG or company event.