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9/10/2004
9. The Principle of Liberty
At last night's meeting, Debbie, John and I looked at one of the Principles of Valid Action:
"When you harm others you remain enchained, but if you do not harm anyone, you can freely do whatever you want."
There were two different ways we were looking at this principle. For some of us, this principle has to do with letting go of the guilt or perceived expectations on us from society or our family or our own sense of ourselves and truly doing what we want.

On the other hand, sometimes our actions are not meant to harm others but they do anyway (time spent away from my partner can leave me too tired to really be present and in relationship when we are together, for example) which ends up keeping me separate from others and enchained.