When we have no “appeal to man”, when we are “deprived of [our] rights” or “under the exercise of power without right”, we have the “liberty to appeal to heaven.”
]]>Neither the Crown nor the parliament were listening to the petitions of the colonists, this involved issues such as: The Sugar Act, Tea Act, Quartering Acts, Stamp Act, and other dissolutions.
They were being ruled over with an iron fist with no option for redress. No one would hear their petitions.
Our founders were well studied, and one text in particular had a significant impact on them, it was from the philosopher John Locke.
In one of the two treaties he wrote, he addressed natural rights. Natural rights are those rights that are not dependent on culture, time, man’s laws, etc…
They are eternal, inalienable, and most importantly God-given.
Our founders took refuge and courage in these words in particular:
“And where the body of the people, or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven, whenever they judge the cause of sufficient moment. And therefore, though the people cannot be judge, so as to have, by the constitution of that society, any superior power, to determine and give effective sentence in the case; yet they have, by a law antecedent and paramount to all positive laws of men, reserved that ultimate determination to themselves which belongs to all mankind, where there lies no appeal on earth, viz. to judge, whether they have just cause to make their appeal to heaven.”
That is powerful!
When we have no “appeal to man”, when we are “deprived of [our] rights” or “under the exercise of power without right”, we have the “liberty to appeal to heaven.”
This God-inspired writing no doubt had a significant impact on the thinking of those times.
They understood that their Maker was the ruler of Natural Rights, that those rights were inalienable, and that they had the liberty - and even duty - to make that appeal to God Himself.
That is exactly what they did. They relied on God, His Justice, His Mercy, and His Power.
The quote was later fashioned into the “Pine Tree Flag” or the “Appeal to Heaven Flag.”
This flag was used in many ways preceding the American Revolution, during, and even to this day.
This flag was flown by a squadron of George Washington’s men. It gave meaning and conviction to the cause.
If you have studied the American Revolution, you know this was God’s war to win.
All odds were against the colonist winning, but God had a different plan. And part of that was put in place when he inspired this text of John Locke a century before.
This text help put the cause of the American Revolution in its proper light and carried it through the difficulty that was ahead.
Here at Freedom Elements, we worship God and are His defenders. We believe he is the authority on all truth, rights, and freedom. He is the answer!
Today, we need to be making this same appeal to Him. He stands ready to deliver.
The desires of men to rule over others will never cease, it will merely retreat in equivalence to the push we make towards God and His principles – it is the only antidote towards evil.
Tomorrow we will unveil our design around this quote. We brought in the original Pine Tree Flag as well as our updated design concept.
We think you will love it, so watch your emails!
]]>Are we seizing control of every aspect of our lives or giving that control to others?
]]>As humans, it is easier to shift blame than to look inward.
Those who are comfortable with accountability are on a different playing field than the rest.
They will reach levels of success that the “blamers” can only dream of.
When we say that someone else is to blame, we are saying we have no control over who and what we become. We are giving them the power.
This is dangerous.
This is an abandonment of personal freedom.
That is why many of us are stuck. Not only is our progress damned, but we are also likely on a path of regression.
This habit must be broken.
Not only should we accept responsibility when it is clearly our doing or fault.
We should also get into a habit of accepting it when we don’t think we are to blame.
Why?
In every situation, no matter who is to blame, there is something that can be learned.
If you are willing to accept that you could have done something better, you are saying your own progress is more important than being right.
This is empowering.
This leads to Freedom.
As a father and husband, this trait of accountability is something I am diligently working on.
I know that I play an important role inside my home.
I take responsibility for my part in providing for my family, the family culture, our spiritual progress, physical fitness, finances, etc.
I also realize how important it is that I take accountability when these things are not being met or going as they should.
When I am willing to accept responsibility, I see that trait among my family.
The opposite is also true. When I blame others, shift responsibility, etc. I see others do the same.
This creates a cancer that destroys family culture and personal progress.
The same can be said of any aspect of our lives.
I want to challenge each of us to look at our lives and determine if we are taking accountability.
Are we seizing control of every aspect of our lives or giving that control to others?
If we are not taking control, then we are abandoning our personal freedom and development – let’s not do that.
It’s a tough trait to develop, but once it is, it is extremely powerful and liberating – and that’s true freedom!
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
He is the creator of The Gadsten Flag, aka The Don't Tread on Me Flag.
]]>He is the creator of The Gadsten Flag, aka The Don't Tread on Me Flag.
During the American Revolution, this flag helped inspire many to fight for the cause of freedom.
The Gadsten Flag continues to carry that same powerful message of freedom today.
One of our first shirt designs as a company was a tribute to this piece of American history.
Let’s not shrink. God created us to be powerful
]]>While reading “Wild at Heart” I came across this quote:
“To give a man back his heart is the hardest mission on earth.”
What is this referring to?
There are a lot of angles here, but paramount amount them is the war that is being waged against men in our society.
We are being told masculinity is bad. That patriarchy is the root of our problems. That being a man is shameful.
I reject these beliefs and believe the opposite to be true.
Masculinity is at the very foundation of a strong society.
Being a man is an honor and great responsibility.
If we are going to recover from the rot we are experiencing, men must regain their hearts.
I think of the quote form our founding, by Thomas Paine:
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
Men, these times are trying our souls. We are fighting unprecedented evil in this battle to live up to what God created us for.
Just like Tyranny, this evil is not easily conquered.
And yet, we have the same promise: the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
Let’s not shrink. God created us to be powerful – as his children, we have this endowment directly from Him.
It’s time to find our hearts again. Be what you know you were created to be.
You can feel it deep inside your soul. It’s power, determination, a desire to protect, a longing for freedom, adventure.
It’s all the things they are saying bad and undesirable, embrace those qualities and use them to do good.
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
Daily we are blessed to be able to worship the only worthy and true King, even Christ the Lord.
]]>What an amazing holiday it is at its core…
Our mission as a company centers around helping protect and defend freedom and truth.
At the very center of that principle of freedom, is our belief in Jesus Christ.
We are grateful to be able to celebrate His birth and earthly mission.
Our Savior defeated bondage with his Infinite sacrifice and unlocked freedom for each of us.
Daily we are blessed to be able to worship the only worthy and true King, even Christ the Lord.
Praise be to God for His Goodness.
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
In a prior newsletter I talked about why I feel the need to do so. If you missed it, it’s available here.
Let’s start with the very foundation of personal freedom.
Personal freedom means the ability to choose for and have control over every aspect of our lives.
There are two issues at hand here as it relates to personal freedom, and it is important we make a proper distinction between them.
I believe this gift of personal freedom (or agency) comes directly from God and is foundational to the growth of His children.
And, unfortunately, we live in a world where leaders of nations – as well as imperfect individuals - desire to usurp God’s will and steal that most precious gift (freedom) from others. This is a topic we will discuss further in another newsletter.
Even if we are fortunate enough to have political freedom (like we do in the United States - even though that is quickly changing) those freedoms can also be lost/abandoned by us through the choices we do or don’t make.
We hold more power than we realize. We get to determine how much personal freedom we want to have.
We get upset when we see politicians passing laws that steal our freedom, but are we holding ourselves to that same standard?
Here is the hard truth: We are ALL personally Enslaved by the decisions we are making, the only question is, to what extent?
And if we really want to be free, we must be willing to ask ourselves, “what do I need to do to gain more freedom in my life?”
You have heard me say many times, if we want to defend our freedom as Americans, it starts with being free individually. That freedom gives us individual power. That power strengthens our families and communities. And those things lead to a strong and free country.
So, what do I mean by personal freedom?
There are five primary areas that impact nearly every aspect of our lives.
We call these areas The Freedom Elements, they are: Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Emotional, and Mental
These are areas we are going to cover in detail as we move towards this message with a more direct approach.
To illustrate what we are talking about with personal freedom, let’s look at our finances as an example.
This example is simplified and is being used to help illustrate this concept of personal freedom.
Money is one of the prime examples of freedom/bondage.
If our money is where it needs to be it creates freedom.
Conversely, if it isn’t, it creates bondage.
Debt is a good example of this.
If you owe someone money, you no longer have full freedom of what to do with that money – you owe it to someone else. They are a master over at least a part of your finances.
The interest they charge adds to that burden and further takes away your money freedom. This creates a negative compounding affect to our loss of freedom.
While there are good and reasonable ways to use debt, and some of those ways can even increase your freedom with money, debt is still an obligation.
It becomes even more dangerous when it is used unwisely.
Not only does debt steal the future use of your money (causing loss of freedom) it has other detrimental effects that also steal freedom.
It affects marriages, as it is reported to be the leading cause of divorce.
It steals precious time with loved ones - as we must work more hours to pay back those obligations.
It affects our health thru: stress, lost sleep from worrying, emotional turmoil, etc.
It really steals a portion of who we are. That burden is being borne by us and will affect every aspect of our lives.
This bondage from debt causes us to live our lives as a fraction of what we are capable of.
Conversely, if we have money freedom, we see better health, healthier family relationships, freedom of time, emotional freedom, etc.
The sad reality about financial bondage is that it is often caused by us feeling the need to be or live a lifestyle that isn't authentic - keeping up with the Joneses.
To really become free we have to understand this component of personal freedom. We may think that just because we live in the United States, that we are free.
Nothing could be further from the truth...
If we are not careful, we will become enslaved in our own lives; and because we have the control, we get to decide if we will act as the liberator or tyrant of our own personal freedoms.
If we don't take it seriously, and use proper care, we will only experience a fraction of the freedom that available to us.
It really is within our power to decide what level of freedom we want to experience.
The sad reality is that we may not even realize how enslaved we really are!
This makes it really hard for us to make progress if we are unaware.
My objective is to expose these areas of bondage and help us ALL realize the chains we are carrying.
I personally believe this area of personal freedom is even more important than the political freedom we talk so much about.
We will continue to set the foundation of personal freedom in the coming weeks as we send out the Freedom Elements Newsletter, and then will dive further into each specific area: Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Emotional, Mental.
It is my goal to provide resources and that will help us as Americans to become more free individuals. This really is our only chance of protecting the freedoms we love. If we are enslaved, we will be easily controlled.
It is my goal to have as much freedom in my personal life as possible, and I hope you will follow me on this journey.
God bless,
Darron Rowley
I have personally found that some of my best growth has come when those that care about me most tell me the hard truths.
]]>We love freedom – both as it relates to political and individual freedom – as well as other truth-based principles.
I also accept that I don’t get everything 100% accurate, but I do my best.
Understanding the truth is a life-long pursuit, and because of that I am always adding to and refining my understanding of those principles.
But I have felt for some time that my message here needs to be more specific – especially as it relates to gaining freedom in our own individual lives.
I have given a lot of general thoughts and recommendations, but I feel a more direct approach is in order.
I would like to start going deeper into each of these topics of freedom.
We highlighted those areas of freedom in our last newsletter - in case you missed it they are:
-Spiritual Freedom
-Financial Freedom
-Emotional Freedom
-Mental Freedom
-Physical Freedom
It is my strong belief that this focus on personal freedom is what will help us maintain our country – our political freedom.
How can an enslaved society adequately support and defend freedom on a much broader scale?
The answer, they can’t.
As we move forward, I will either rotate between these topics each week, or do a deep-dive and cover them each over a few weeks or a month.
The quest for personal freedom is hard. It’s a battle. It takes discipline. It’s worth fighting for.
As I share these thoughts moving forward, it is without judgement or critique.
Some of the things I share may be because of my own personal struggles or shortcomings. Some of them are going to be areas I have mastered.
No matter how they apply to me or you, I hope you will consider these thoughts and take from it what you feel inspired by God to implement in your life.
The hardest things to hear are often the most important.
If something hits you hard, I hope that it will awaken your senses opposed to hardening your heart.
I have personally found that some of my best growth has come when those that care about me most tell me the hard truths.
It's time to level up - let's take this journey together towards a pursuit of total personal freedom.
I am far from where I want to be, but I am also more dedicated than I have ever been to this cause of personal freedom.
As always, I welcome your input and correspondence.
If there are things we share that are working for you, or that you are struggling with, let me hear about it. Those things can be of value to the community as a whole.
God bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
I do have hope, that with God’s help, and our care for each of these areas, we WILL be fortified.
]]>Our financial system is falling apart…
Our border is being infiltrated…
War is breaking out across the world…
Our country is divided…
They are attacking the family unit from every angle…
We are in a recession…
Spiritual decay is rampant…
Seemingly, it feels like it is all falling apart – which is exactly how they want you to feel.
My message today is that there is hope and a way that we can prepare ourselves for what is coming.
The answer is found in following correct principles - but it is also going to require the very best of what we have to offer.
Here is my conviction of what we must be doing right now:
Spirituality
We need God. There is no other answer or place to start. Without the Divine Hand of Providence, we will not survive the storm that is upon us.
If we desire His guidance, it starts with making change.
We must be willing to give up WHATEVER It is in our lives that is driving away His Spirit and Influence.
We must bring out actions in line with His will. We must reconcile ourselves to Him.
This is absolutely the most important step. If we want a strong foundation, it must be built upon His truth.
We need spiritual strength and fortitude.
Financially
We must have our finances in order. Those who seek to destroy us are using money as a way to control the masses.
If you are indebted, get out. If you have no emergency savings, get it in place. Focus on increasing your value so you can secure and grow your income.
An indebted society is an enslaved society and will be easily controlled. Get your finances where they need to be.
Emotionally
What is coming will require emotional strength and control. They are going to (already are but it will intensify) throw everything at us.
Think back to Covid. Remember the emotional toll it took on so many?
We need to have our emotions in check. This will require us to: know our belief system, understand our weak tendencies, use our emotions correctly, know what outcome we desire, and be committed to making decisions that align with our principles.
Physically
Is your body disciplined in such a way that you are in control of its desires?
This area is three-fold:
Are we taking care of our health to eliminate whatever sickness we can?
Are we building strength so that we can defend ourselves if necessary?
Are we avoiding addictive behaviors?
Our bodies are the driving force behind nearly everything that we do. We must be putting proper care into our vessels - because if our health is failing it will impact everything that we do.
Mentally
Are we strengthening our minds?
This requires us to align ourselves with truth-based principles. If we are filling our minds with untruth, no level of mental preparedness will be of any value.
Read good books. Follow insightful individuals. Learn correct principles. Grow your capacity to learn and understand important information.
Conclusion
We have two options – at least in mind.
We can build who we are, or we can go into what is ahead of us weak and unprepared.
I really don’t think there are any other options.
Getting prepared won’t help us avoid the storm, but it will give us the fortitude to weather it.
Think of two homes:
One built upon a weak foundation (or even no foundation at all);
And the other home built upon a correctly fortified foundation.
Which home do you want to be dwelling in when the storm is raging outside?
One will withstand and the other won’t – you choose.
The time is short, we must get going.
I do have hope, that with God’s help, and our care for each of these areas, we WILL be fortified.
We will be able to endure what is ahead of us.
But, we must do our part – and time is of the essence.
I am confident that if we give proper care to these 5 areas we just discussed, we will have the foundation in place to strengthen ourselves, our families, and our communities.
It's NEVER too late to get started!
Hit reply to this email if I can help in any way. If you are struggling with an area and need some guidance, I am more than happy to offer whatever insight I can.
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
There is real power in defending and testifying of the truth. I want to encourage each of us to NOT be silent in the face of evil.
]]>Most of them are likely reasonable and even valid.
But I often think about this quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and what it means to not speak, he said:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will NOT hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
So, what does this mean? What is our obligation?
Today I heard more about the steps Canada is taking to provide their citizens with assisted death.
Not just for those who are terminally ill (which is terrible), but even for teens who are depressed.
That is evil.
In America we are mutilating children and allowing the to “change” their genders.
That is evil.
In elementary schools we are introducing children to pornography under the guise of “sex education.” We are indoctrinating them with filth and untruth.
That is evil.
The list could go on, and on, and on.
Even if we disagree with these things, is that enough?
I believe this is where Bonhoeffer's quote becomes relevant.
Silence in the face of these evils is evil itself.
We have to be better than taking the backseat on these issues and silently disagreeing.
God expects us to stand for truth.
I believe we will be sorely mistaken if we believe that just disagreeing with these actions is enough.
We WILL be held accountable for what we did – or didn’t do - to speak up and defend God and His truth.
This will look different for everyone.
I am not talking about getting on social media and engaging in toxic conversation.
What I do believe we should be doing is fortifying ourselves spiritually.
Teaching truth in our homes.
Building our neighborhoods and communities.
Being actively involved in our church.
Putting out a message of truth on whatever medium we choose.
There is real power in defending and testifying of the truth.
I want to encourage each of us to NOT be silent in the face of evil.
If we want God to defend us in our time of need, we MUST be willing to defend Him and His truth!
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
No matter what your contribution looks like - you may even view it as insignificant - what matters is the stance you take.
]]>What if they had chosen to stay subject to the crown?
I am grateful they held to their convictions. I have a great deal of respect for them.
What is your legacy? How will history view your contributions?
This is something that I consider often. I believe each of us has the power inside of us to have a long and lasting impact.
No matter what your contribution looks like - you may even view it as insignificant - what matters is the stance you take.
Did you stand for truth?
Did you cave to the pressures of a corrupt society?
Or will you rise above and stand for what is right and true?
What will you choose?
I choose to leave a legacy that defended Truth and Freedom.
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
It’s vital that each of us are actively involved - we can't sit this one out. If you are already engaged, double down.
]]>One of the biggest errors I believe we have made as patriots is not being actively engaged in preserving the freedom and truth we hold dear. Conversely, those who seek to destroy those things have been very active and intentional for quite some time.
It’s one thing to hold a particular belief, but it’s something entirely different to be involved in its defense - to actually be in the arena.
It’s vital that each of us are actively involved - we can't sit this one out. If you are already engaged, double down.
Put in the effort to develop who you are - it starts with us being strong individually if we want to have a significant impact outside of ourselves. This will look differently for everybody, but you know what it is you need to work on. I definitely know where I need to be stronger - and I’m committed to doing it!
It’s go time! Thank you for everything you are doing to help defend the cause of Freedom.
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
When I consider what it will take for us to preserve our Republic, the element that has me most concerned is how well our adversaries have done at personally enslaving us. How can we preserve freedom on a national level if we are struggling with it individually?
This is why we changed our brand to Freedom Elements. We believe that IF we have any chance of holding onto the freedoms we hold dear, we MUST be stronger individually. We MUST be free in our personal lives. We have lots of work to do in this regard – and no time to waste.
Our message as a company focuses on the 5 Elements of Freedom and how a disciplined approach in those areas will lead us to personal freedom – and help us preserve our republic.
These areas are: Spiritual, Financial, Physical, Mental, and Emotional.
Strict discipline in these areas WILL liberate us.
It will strengthen families, build communities, and preserve our country. Thank you for being a part of our community and following our message about broadening the cause of freedom!
Shoot us a message and let us know how you feel like we are doing!
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
The way forward, if a politician wants to have the hearts of the American people, is by being real – that’s the only thing that will work.
]]>
There are two things that are making this song resonate with so many – me included.
Let's Discuss it.
The name of the song: Rich Men North of Richmond.
I will post the link to YouTube video at the bottom of the post for those who haven’t heard the song.
People are sick and tired of being treated like they are little children.
We are being lied to by the media, politicians, school boards, entertainment outlets, churches, etc.
The elites that desire control look at us as pheasants who bring nothing of value to the public square of discourse.
They don’t believe that we should have a vote.
The title of this popular song is a direct short at those in Washington DC - but really applies to every aspect of our society.
Americans just want to be left alone without having the ruling class control and manipulate every aspect of their lives.
This song does a wonderful job of taking aim at these dark and deceitful practices that are being perpetrated by those who lust after power and control.
It especially calls out the struggles of many and how these policies are destroying our country.
Oliver said what all of us are thinking and feeling - but just didn’t quite know how articulate.
The pot of our emotions and struggles is boiling over and this song hits that chord.
While not every line in this song resonates with me, the general tone certainly does.
It’s raw, it’s real, and I appreciate that.
This is why it is going hyper-viral.
After our experience with Covid, trust is not something that is being handed out freely anymore.
The lying, deceit, manipulation – everything associated with what we have seen over the last three years – has caused us to question traditional forms of leadership even inside places that once had our trust.
Sadly, even churches are now included in this lack of trust – and that is a huge problem.
People are struggling out there and they don’t feel like anyone in power cares.
While this is not new, it is getting exponentially worse.
It’s all about politics and control.
This song covers everything from: inflation stealing our wealth (“the dollar aint sh*t”), the heavy burden of taxes, suicide, alcoholism, people starving on the streets, being controlled, the toxic nature of working without ever getting ahead.
It says what so many of us are feeling.
People are not only fed up, but are extremely discouraged – or even worse, depressed and deflated.
As I watched a few clips from the Republican debate, it was quickly evident to me that it is just more of the same.
The answers were careful, scripted, and mostly fake.
They even played Oliver’s song and tried to spin it as a hit on liberalism and how they are the party of the “working man.”
This view on the debate is coming from someone who holds strong conservative beliefs, and unfortunately, none of it felt real.
This just shows how disconnected they ALL are.
The song is a hit on those who are in a position to make change but really only want power.
We are sick of sending money to wars when we have homelessness, addiction, suicide, etc. that is rampant in our own country.
And they just can’t quite seem to understand that.
We want change here!
This song is a referendum on ALL of them.
We want to be spoken to honestly and directly.
We don’t trust scripted answers and anyone who tries this approach loses our trust.
The way forward, if a politician wants to have the hearts of the American people, is by being real – that’s the only thing that will work.
This is why Trump won in 2016 and why he is leading now.
They were so out of touch, even after he won, they just couldn’t understand how it had happened.
Their lust for control wouldn’t allow them to see the message what was being sent.
You don’t have to like or agree with.
This is not an endorsement of Trump. This is just the reality.
The key to our future, if someone wants to have deep impact – ie…media, politicians, church leaders, school boards, etc. – they are going to have to be real and relatable.
No more scripted political answers.
As the song says, he’s an “old soul living in a new world.”
I know I feel that way, I long for the “olden” days when things felt more real. Life was much simpler.
When we could trust traditional sources of information.
You want our hearts?
It comes down to one thing.
We want REAL people who are willing to speak the TRUTH!
Nothing else will do!
Thank you, Anthony Oliver, for saying what so many of us are feeling.
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
Here is the video (click picture):
]]>Are we defending truth and freedom – as Patrick did?
Or are we unsure?
]]>“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbit it, Almighty God! I know now what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
This quote by Patrick Henry stirs emotion in me each time I hear/read it.
I think the reason it is so powerful is not only because of the call for liberty that it entails, but because of his firm conviction towards something he considered to be an absolute truth.
He believed liberty was more important than false security or the outright chains of slavery.
He was unwavering. It was firmly rooted in his soul.
This quote reminds me of the bible verse from Joshua 24:15, where it says:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Again, unwavering. For Joshua it was God or nothing.
Both men had this one thing in common. They had conviction.
Do we?
This week we are launching a new design around this principle of: Give Me Liberty - so stay tuned.
Undoubtedly, we find ourselves in equally trying times as both Joshua and Patrick Henry.
The world is changing at a rapid pace.
Evil has seemingly fixing its place in every aspect of society.
Now, more than ever, we must have a firm conviction about what we believe.
Have we chosen God – as Joshua did?
Are we defending truth and freedom – as Patrick did?
Or are we unsure?
I am here to tell you that nothing less than a strong conviction will do.
If we are not fixed on truth, it will be impossible to stand by our “convictions” – or more importantly, survive what is coming.
It is my plea to you – and especially myself - that we firmly fix the precepts of truth in our minds so that we can all say – like Joshua and Patrick – that we will only accept and follow the truth.
We need this conviction.
Get close to God and understand His teachings.
Having this firm conviction is not a destination, rather it’s a journey – one that takes a lifetime.
It is something we must build every day.
The more determined our conviction for good, the more likely we will find ourselves on the right side of truth.
As for me and my house, we choose God and Liberty!
God bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
“If a people truly desire freedom, they must first find it through breaking the chains of slavery in their own individual lives!” – Darron Rowley
]]>As the years have passed, I have come to realize that the feeling of patriotism is so much more than just love of country.
As Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That pride in a country – or as we refer to it, patriotism – is more than just an excitement for the cause of freedom.
Those feelings are an endowment from God. Whenever we support any cause of truth, we will inevitably feel His influence.
This is how we recognize truth!
Freedom truly is God’s principle; and as such, when we support its cause, we feel its sacredness.
This is what we are experiencing when we feel a sense of patriotism or pride in country!
We are feeling God's confirmation to us that freedom is a true principle.
As part of my message today, I would like to share with you a few of my favorite quotes centered around liberty and freedom.
I find these to be extemely powerful. I hope you will find value them as well.
“A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” – Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence
“Believe me, dear Sir: there is not in the British empire a man who more cordially loves a union with Great Britain than I do. But, by the God that made me, I will cease to exist before I yield to a connection on such terms as the British Parliament propose; and in this, I think I speak the sentiments of America.” – Thomas Jefferson
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" - Patrick Henry
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its good; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article of FREEDOM should not be highly rated." - Thomas Paine, American Crisis
“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.” - John Adams, Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom - go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms, Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!" - Samuel Adams
"It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in any country where virtue and knowledge prevail." - Samuel Adams
“There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!” - John Hancock
"Without Virtue there can be no liberty." – Benjamin Rush
And from the words of “My Country, 'Tis of Thee
“Our Fathers’ God, to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light.
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King!”
“If a people truly desire freedom, they must first find it through breaking the chains of slavery in their own individual lives!” – Darron Rowley
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
That is how real conversion takes place. Don’t ever discount your ability to have a strong impact on others for good.
]]>Both the parade and booth turned out to be quite a success for us. The support was very strong!
I have reflected often since Saturday on both the things I heard while I was at this fair. I want to keep things brief so you may receive a few emails from me this week with those reflections.
One thing that really stood out to me was one of the individuals who was in the parade with us. He has served in the military for many years.
This was his second time walking with us in the parade.
As I looked over at him during the parade, I saw what I considered to be a rare display of patriotism.
He was interacting well with the spectators while both clapping and yelling “freedom.”
I could tell without a doubt, what the cause of freedom means to him. It was powerful.
It is one thing to have a belief in something, but to have deep passion is something else entirely.
This is the type of emotion that has the power to convert others.
I came away from seeing his devotion with an even deeper conviction of the cause of Freedom.
Thank you, Nick!
I hope we can all share truth with that same power and conviction as I saw from him.
That is how real conversion takes place. Don’t ever discount your ability to have a strong impact on others for good.
God bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
But God has already won. He is just watching to see if YOU will pick HIM.
]]>Can you imagine the money you could make?
What if you knew the next “Amazon” or what the stock market was going to do day-by-day for the next 10 years?
Can you imagine the wealth you would have?
How would knowing this information cause you to act differently with your money?
While those things may be fun to think about from time to time, the reality is that it’s futile because there is no way to know.
For those who have ever trained for a physical event, how would knowing the outcome or your exact performance ahead of time help you better train?
What if you knew exactly what was going to happen prior to the event like an injury, cramps, weakness in your training, how your competition will perform, etc.
Knowing the result would help immensely.
Or would it?
I believe there is a result that we already have the outcome to.
While it’s not sports, stock market, or even a physical event, it is of much greater magnitude.
There is a war that is taking place. This war is between good and evil.
There will also be a Victor – or rather, there already has been One. (Notice the purposeful use of capitalization in this sentence)
I believe this war has already been won. The score is already settled. We already know the outcome.
Because God is a God of truth and righteousness, He has already conquered evil. He did that through his Son Jesus Christ.
Now, if this seems like preaching that’s okay, it probably is.
This message is for me, and I hope you will find some value in it as well.
I feel the truth of this message as strongly as I feel anything in my life.
I can feel it at my very core.
The battle is real.
The outcome is secured.
There is only one question of importance that we must be asking ourselves and it is this:
Which side have you chosen?
If you haven’t chosen a side, by default you have chosen – and it’s not the correct or winning side.
Indecision in this matter will not center us where we need to be.
Think about the choices you would make if you had perfect knowledge beforehand as it relates to making money.
If you knew that one single investment of $1,000 in the stock market was going to make you 1 million dollars, you would do whatever required to get the money to invest?
In fact, you would secure a lot more than just the $1,000, wouldn’t you?
God has promised us all that He has if we are faithful – and it’s more than we could ever imagine.
And we know He wins in the end.
The question is, have we picked His side? Are we going all in?
Are we doing whatever it takes to come up with what he requires – which is faithfulness – to get that reward?
Are we doing as much for Him as we do to seek return or rewards in other areas of our lives?
I know I can do better.
Now, before we get down on ourselves for our faults and imperfections, I want to make something absolutely clear.
God does not require perfection from us right now.
I am convinced God can work mighty miracles through anyone who is willing to pick His side.
He can use ANYONE who is willing – regardless of imperfections.
The adversary would have us believe we are terrible, unworthy, despised, dirty; and every other form of lie he can conceive.
That is false. That untruth does not come from God.
God saw enough value in us to send His Son to redeem us, and He did it because every soul matters.
Every Soul! Period.
The war is real. Darkness wants your soul. It wants to destroy your family.
But God has already won. He is just watching to see if YOU will pick HIM.
There is no battle, struggle, sin, weakness, insecurity, or anything else that you may be going through that He cannot help you overcome.
He is the answer – but we must choose to be on that winning side.
And why would we not want to be?
The time to get your house in order – spiritually, financially, physically, emotionally, relationship-wise – is today, as God needs warriors who are willing to stand.
You follow this newsletter because you love Freedom.
I am here to tell you, political freedom matters, but not nearly as much as the Freedom that God provides for those who follow Him.
And the political freedom we desire so much is contingent on our spiritual freedom and getting ourselves as a nation close to God.
It is my earnest pleading that you align yourself with Him. It is the only way we survive the struggles that are assuredly ahead.
And if you feel disconnected with God, now’s the time to work on that relationship. If I can help, I am just an email away.
Thank you for the example of courage that you are for me.
I gain strength from seeing your willingness to stand for Truth.
Pick the better side, the outcome is secured!
God bless you and your family,
Darron Rowley
Here is a quick thought to help prepare your mind for that coming message.
It is a quote from Thomas Jefferson:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
I worry that we discount just how powerful, just, all-knowing, and vitally important God is to our individual lives and the survival of our country.
It would benefit every one of us to turn ourselves directly to that God who is the source of all truth and goodness.
Look out for our message Sunday morning as we expound on this topic.
Regards,
Darron
“It does not take a majority to prevail…but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” Samuel Adams
This is where we are today. Back to where we started.
This quote is taken from one of the great minds from the founding of this country.
Samuel Adams was one of the original patriots. He deserves a great deal of credit for the freedoms we have today.
He set many “brushfires of freedom in the minds of men” which acted as a catalyst for the American Revolution.
We hold a similar role today as Samuel Adams did.
What are we doing to push the cause of freedom forward?
Do we understand the truth and are we doing our all to spread it?
While I do not even remotely consider myself akin to a Samuel Adams – or even a patriot of prominence or significance – the one thing I do have is a burning desire to spread the cause of freedom.
This is what this newsletter is about. The shirts help fund our mission, but what we share here is what I consider the heart of our business.
If you find value in this message, would you be willing to share it with 5 of your closest friends?
Here is a link that they can get signed up for this newsletter.
This newsletter is the best way I know how to set “brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”
I sincerely appreciate each of you and the support you have given us here at Freedom Elements.
It’s a tough world out there, evil is growing, and your support in helping push this message forward means more than you will ever know.
Thank you!
God Bless you and your family.
Your Brother in Freedom,
Darron Rowley
I hope we will all have the courage to do the same!
]]>In this town, there is a small convenience store. Every time we come to visit we go to this store to get treats or hamburgers.
As we were pulling in, I saw a new addition in front of the store – it was a new sign.
Immediately I knew the meaning behind this sign.
Here is the photo I took:
As I talked with the store owner, his emotion on this topic was strong and unwavering.
We all know what has happened over the last few months with the Anheuser-Busch brand and their plummeting sales.
Their market cap (the value of the company) has shed north of $15 billion dollars. All because individuals are willing to stand by their principles.
This store owner was no exception.
"Even though customers are not buying the product and it doesn’t make sense to stock it," he stated "I am unwilling to support a brand that defies God’s truth and harms children or families.”
I don’t know what the long-term outlook is for Anheuser-Busch, but I do know the long-term outlook for us as individuals (our souls) if we don’t stand for our convictions - and it’s not good.
After all, the impact we are having on these brands is secondary to the development for us personally as we stand for principles and truth.
Our development - especially spiritually - is what matters.
When we stand for what is right, it strengthens who we are – and ultimately brings us closer to our God.
This is what matters.
This is worth taking a stand for.
This is how we preserve our families and ourselves.
When we give money to a brand, we are sending them a message that we support their actions – good or bad – and give them the OK to keep going in the direction they are going.
The only way we can send a message that we disagree is by withholding money and letting them know “their voices don’t speak for the rest of us.”
Whether it’s Anheuser-Busch, Target, Hollywood, Disney, or anything else; we have to be willing to give up something we enjoy for the principles we hold dear.
Whether that has any impact by way of them changing their actions, who knows.
But again, who and what we become in the process is worth us taking a stand.
As a brand, it is always been my goal to share a message that coincides with the principles I hold dear.
I have no doubt that my convictions have cost me sales, people unsubscribing from my newsletter, or unfollowing me on social media; and I am absolutely fine with that because I know it will resonate with the right people.
I also have a clear conscious that I have been true to myself and to my God.
The store owner in this small mountain town strengthened my conviction of truth and gave me even more courage and determination to stand for it.
Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to associate ourselves with people who are willing to do the same.
I hope we will all have the courage to fight for what we know is right and true.
Individually, and as a brand, I have committed that I will stand by my convictions and hope you will join me!
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
When men know not what to do; they ought not do, they know not what.
]]>When men know not what to do; they ought not do, they know not what.
Have you ever felt that way?
Life is made of the things we should do and the things we should not do – both are not always readily apparent.
Both are going to have significant impacts on who and what we become, so we need to have clarity in these areas.
The challenge is that clarity is not always easy. So, what do we do?
I have found that one vital habit must be seeking inspiration daily.
Life is busy, and if we do not take time to reflect, we will make decisions by default.
This is a dangerous way to go about it. We really need to be more intentional than that.
Mediocre decisions making will lead to less than mediocre outcomes - and usually much less.
Taking time each day to reflect, seek inspiration, pray, read good material, etc. will help us to make intentional decisions.
This is exactly how our founders went about it.
Most things can be sorted out – both what we should and should be doing – if we are intently seeking it.
Let’s be intentional and not live our lives with default decisions.
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
The worst day in a man’s life is when he sits down and begins thinking about how he can get something for nothing.
]]>Had a quick thought I wanted to share with you today.
It is a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson, it says:
The worst day in a man’s life is when he sits down and begins thinking about how he can get something for nothing.
This quote is profound and powerful. It also runs contrary to the untruth the world is constantly trying to spread.
There are a lot of reasons why this quote is true, but the one that stands out to me is the importance of progress.
Think of the hardest thing you have gone through or accomplished in your lifetime. What did that process do for you as an individual?
The growth that comes as we progress is powerful. It is part of who we are. It cannot be taken from us.
Money, health, professions, etc. all of these things are eventually lost when we die, but not who we have become. It is one of the few things we will take with us.
If we want “things” without the work of earning it, we will lose the opportunity to grow into stronger individuals – and even worse, we will likely decline from where we currently are.
We shouldn’t shy away from hard things; rather, we should embrace them because of who and what it will help us become.
Nothing worth having comes easy or free!
Regards,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
And we can do all of this despite our weakness and imperfection, but we must be willing to build our internal strength, be willing to act, and turn to God (Appeal to Heaven).
]]>And if you are anything like me, I’m sure you find yourself getting emotionally passionate about topics related to it from time to time.
It is deeply engrained into who we are as Patriots!
I appreciate our founding and the uniqueness of our Republic. Our founders were inspired, disciplined, willing to act, understood truth, strong-willed, and courageous.
They were also flawed and imperfect – which I believe is important for us to realize, because even with those weaknesses, they were able to do remarkable things.
As I have studied these founders, there is something that really stands out to me.
It is this:
Our Founders were exceptionally strong individuals, who put a great deal of time into building themselves and their knowledge of truth - they took their idividual freedom seriously – and that is why they were able to further the cause of freedom like they did.
As I recently started reading an autobiography of Thomas Jefferson, I am amazed at the attributes he possessed. It started years before he drafted the Declaration of Independence.
We desperately need strong individuals in our time to step forward and do remarkable things just as they did back at our founding.
Are you going to be one of them?
To do so, we have to be strong internally if we want to have any type of significant impact externally.
There are forces at work that are desperately trying to weaken America, because they know if freedom falls here, it will fall everywhere.
To accomplish this abolishment of freedom, they are strategically targeting our society. They have to destroy families and individuals. They have to make us dependent. They have to take away our strength and resolve. They must blur the truth.
How do we combat this?
Like our founders we must be: inspired, disciplined, willing to act, understand truth, strong-willed, and courageous.
We developed two of our shirts around these principles, Courage and Truth.
And we can do all of this despite our weakness and imperfection - just as our founder did - but we must be willing to build our internal strength, be willing to act, and turn to God (Appeal to Heaven).
In our of Freedom Elements blog post, we discuss the Seven Elements of Freedom that we must be building in our own lives if we want freedom.
The time is now, the world desperately needs strong indviduals!
God Bless,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
My thought and challenge for each of us is to practice complete honesty. We can't change the darkness in this world by ourselves, but we can be a light amongst it.
]]>I heard it while I was listening to a song – some of you may even recognize it.
It said:
Don’t tell a lie, don’t be false and untrue – it all comes back to you.
As I pondered this lyric, I couldn’t help but think, “what would the world look like if everyone adhered to this principle of honesty?”
We live in a time of much deceit and dishonesty - but that doesn’t have to be true for each of us.
My thought and challenge for each of us is to practice complete honesty.
Imagine what that one act alone would do for our lives and those we have impact on!
We can't change the darkness in this world by ourselves, but we can be a light amongst it.
Let’s be the change we want to see in the world!
Regards,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
You can live in the emotional state of your choosing by doing the internal work of understanding and mastering your emotions, or you don’t. In which case your emotions will control and rule you.
]]>I am excited for this newsletter today - it was written by one of my greatest friends.
He is someone I respect very much. We have had many deep consersations together over the years and I consider him a deep thinker.
The post I am sharing today is without edit. I hope you enjoy!
There are essentially two ways to live with emotions:
You can live in the emotional state of your choosing by doing the internal work of understanding and mastering your emotions, or you don’t. In which case your emotions will control and rule you.
All human behavior stems from emotions. You are completely responsible for your responses to the emotional states you experience in life.
You can choose to avoid putting in the time necessary to visit the past traumas in your life that dictate your response to the situations you face. You can choose to be distracted or self medicated by media, sports, work, drugs, alcohol, social media etc.
Or;
you can face your inner most fears that enslave you.
Jung said:
“people will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul.”
Only by pausing the business of life and taking a journey Inward can you find what controls your emotions. In the shadows of your mind you will find the puppet masters at work.
“What happened to me?” Usually, there are things you have done in the past that are painful and you don’t enjoy revisiting.
Only by taking and turning these experiences inside out, breaking them down and taking a closer look at these painful traumas can you turn the crap from the past into useful fertilizer for the future. It’s just composting for the mind.
“What feelings do I experience most often? What am I feeling right now? Why am I feeling that?”
Did you blame someone or something else when you answered these questions? The way you feel today stems from responses to your past beliefs.
The way YOU see the world and process it determines how you feel. Nothing else can control your emotions unless you give it the power to do so.
If trust has been broken in the relationships of your past then why would you trust people in the future?
It might be time to go in, determine where trust has been broken, and repair how you view relationships so you can trust the future.
You have complete control over how you view the past and need to take responsibility for it.
“What emotions do I want to feel? What empowers me?” A simple recipe makes up each emotion we feel. Our thoughts and what we are currently saying in our mind, or physical state (hungry, tired, chemical inputs, stress) and our focus. By changing any or all of these we can change the way we feel.
“How do I view the world?” If you want true freedom, then work on yourself and how you view the world.
What you feel and think directly influences how free you are. Take responsibility for your past traumas, ask profound questions and build resiliency. Beautiful emotional states and freedom will follow.
One point to make clear here, what about when something tragic happens, or a big event unfolds that is completely unexpected?
You get fired, divorced, natural disasters, someone close to you dies, etc.
If you have this happen, it is important to feel those emotions, don’t push them out and ignore them. Be very aware of them, give them a name and a voice.
Give yourself permission to feel any feeling that comes up, every emotion has its rightful place.
The more experience you have dealing with and responding to emotions before a challenging time occurs is going to give you knowledge and a reliable skillset to deal with those challenging times.
If you experience something like grief, go deep into it, feel it, then give yourself permission to move on. There can be freedom that comes from allowing ourselves to feel emotions as a well.
Emotions come like waves, sometimes diving into the waves, embracing them, going deep, is the smoothest way through.
Emotions are a part of us, and move us. Motion is the root of the word. Use them to empower you, and drive you toward growth and take accountability for your responses to them.
Be strong,
Cody Burr
Guest Contribator to Freedom Elements
The wise man built his house upon the rock…
And the rains came tumbling down.
The rains came down, and the floods came up…
And the house on the rock stood still.
The foolish man built his house upon the sand…
And the rains came tumbling down.
The rains came down, and the floods came up…
And the house on the sand washed away.
Some of life’s most important lessons often come from simple teachings – and for me, this song is absolutely one of them.
I try not to sound the alarm of fear, but I cannot help but believe we are headed for difficult times.
This past couple weeks we have been hearing chatter that we are heading for another banking system collapse.
In talking with a good friend of mine who is heavily involved in the finance field, I asked him if he thought we would see other banks collapse – after the SVB one that is.
His response was both clever and accurate, he said:
“It’s like cockroaches, when you see one, you can guarantee there are more.”
I agree with this. If sure feels like we are just getting started…
The finanical mismanagment of our country's finances will inevitably have difficult consquences.
A “foundation” built on the sand is not going to cut it.
There are a few core areas that I feel are vitally important to ensure we are building our foundation on a ROCK, they are:
-Spiritually
-Physically
-Mentally
-Emotionally
-Financially
Each of these areas are core elements of who and what we are as individuals and families.
There is no way to avoid difficulty, but I do believe that if we are fortifying these areas we will be better able to tackle whatever difficulty comes our way.
If we see more of what we saw in 2008 – which is more likely a matter of when and not if – it will significantly hit our finances and spread to EVERY other other core area.
Let’s make sure we are taking proper care and doing anything that we can - with urgencey - to build ourselves and our families upon a rock foundation!
This is the essence of true freedom and how we ensure we are prepared for what lies ahead.
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
It ALL starts with this principle of accountability. Am I following the truth or making excuses?
]]>This was brought on by a conversation my wife and I had had with our children.
As a family, one night we were discussing our day and if we had completed everything we needed to. A few days in a row we kept hearing the same comment from our children.
“Sorry, I forgot to do that.”
After this had gone on for a few days, I quickly said to them, “that is just an excuse.”
They seemed a little stunned and a bit defensive at first. They proceeded to promise me that they really had forgotten.
I believe they had forgotten, but that wasn’t the full truth behind the issue.
The truth was that they were not trying to remember it because it wasn’t a priority for them.
As I explained a few things they could have done to remember – such as setting a reminder on their iPad, making a hand-written note, asking for help to remember from their mom or I, etc. - they started to realize that it was just an excuse, and they would have made the effort to remember had it been more of a priority.
How many things in our lives do we have a “good” excuse for, but if examined more closely, we would realize that we are not doing it because it isn’t a priority.
In many cases, this may be a hurtful realization, as these things we “value” may not be – if examined closely - as big of a priority as we thought they were.
Teaching this important truth has had a significant impact in our home.
We refuse to sit back and do nothing while others teach our children incorrect truths.
When I see my kids try to shift blame, or make excuses, I simply ask them if they are “making and excuse or if that thing is just not a priority for them.”
This has helped them be more accountable and honest with themselves.
The first step – if you want effective change – is understanding the truth and how it can positively affect your life.
This turned out to be an elephant in the room for me, as it has caused me to reflect on the excuses I am making – and unfortunately there are plenty of them.
As I taught this principle to my kids, it personally crystalized this truth for me.
The sad reality is that I can do much better when it comes to personal accountability.
It has helped me realize that some of the things that I thought were important, really are not – and now I can let those things go without guilt.
It’s also been liberating because we often carry a lot of weight and worry around aspects of our lives that are unimportant and unnecessary.
Conversely, it has also haunted me a bit; because there are a few things that are important to me that I am neglecting. I am making excuses and not executing them like I should be – and that needs to change.
The truth is life-changing – but only if we are humble enough to accept and implement it.
Is it our goal to have freedom in our lives?
For me, freedom is what I try to pursue in every aspect of my life – even though I often fall short.
It ALL starts with this principle of accountability. Am I following the truth or making excuses?
When we discussed this truth as a family, we had a choice to make – both as individuals and as a family unit.
Were we going to accept it and abide by it, or let excuses and pride stop our progress – and thereby steal some of our freedom(s)?
I am grateful that my children were more interested in bettering themselves than being upset when confronted with hard truth. They taught me an important principle in the way they responded.
As we strengthen our own personal accountability, our excuses will slowly lose their power over us.
We will also better understand what really is important and what needs to be abandoned.
We all have a choice, what will you choose?
As for me and my house, we have chosen to pursue freedom!
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
This is especially true when it comes to keeping up with others, namely the Joneses.
]]>It is a topic I have put a great deal of thought into and feel like its message has important applications.
I want to share that thread with you today.
Also, here is my twitter handle if you want to follow along: @darronrowley
It’s only the fooled that actually think they are fooling others.
This is especially true when it comes to keeping up with others, namely the Joneses.
When we buy or do anything to make others believe something about us is true – when it really isn’t – we are trying to fool them.
The irony is the people’s opinions that might actually matter know exactly what we are doing.
Hence the one that is trying to fool others, has really only fooled themselves .
Being honest with who we are is the best way to be honest with others.
If we can’t be happy with ourselves, fooling others into believing we are something we are not, surely will not bring us happiness.
Our focus should be on making progress.
When we are making progress in the areas that are important to us, that is when we find fulfillment.
Not by trying to fool others into believing we are something we are not.
Be true to yourself.
Who cares about the Joneses.
Focus on improving who you are.
Don’t try to fool others – especially yourself.
This will lead to more unhappiness than anything else.
The interesting thing is that other’s opinions only matter when we are not making progress.
As you start seeing improvement in your life, you will start caring less about what others think.
Ironically, this is what actually impresses others.
When you are making progress, you gain confidence.
Others notice this.
If your goal is to impress others, work on yourself.
If you want to be happier, work on yourself.
Either way the solution is the same – we must work on ourselves.
Trying to fool anyone into believing we are something we are not, will not make us happy – it can’t because it violates the truth.
Don’t fall victim to the game of keeping up.
The solution lies within your own progress – not with what you can make others believe is true.
A few of my final thoughts on this thread:
We live in a time that is heavily influenced by trying to keep up with others, and I believe it is destroying our society.
Social media has intensified this plague.
In an effort to help ourselves feel valued, we often feel the need to show others that we matter – this can take the form of what we drive, showing off our vacations, posting achievements, etc.
I am not saying you shouldn’t do those things, but what I do feel is important is our reasoning behind it.
If our goal is to seek validation, approval, or self-worth; then we are chasing a lust that cannot be satisfied because it is not based on true principles.
The truth is that the main driver of happiness is progress.
This is not something that someone else can give us, so when we seek approval outside of ourselves, we are going to be disappointed and unfulfilled.
The only way to get there is by working on us. Learning to value who we are. Forgiving our weakness and appreciating the journey of progress. Growing who we are as individuals.
The answer lies inside of you and I – not the approval of others.
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley - founder of Freedom Elements
Last week I was thinking about my role as a father, when this inspiration came to me:
I make a lot of mistakes as a dad…but inaction or lack of teaching/mentoring is not going to be one of them.
I often wonder if there is too much mentoring you can do as a parent.
I don’t want to be the parent who is so overbearing that it lessens the influence I am having with my children.
Conversely, if we are not teaching truths, our kids will be persuaded by harmful ideologies elsewhere.
I have accepted the fact that as dad I am going to make mistakes, but what I cannot accept is doing nothing.
I want to be able to look back and see that I fought tirelessly to prepare my kids for the world they will face.
There is truly a war taking place – good versus evil – and I feel a strong desire to make this truth known to my children.
This past summer I was trying to help my boy get ready for wrestling season.
I would give him a list of exercises and ask him to do them while I was working. He was specifically working on pull-ups.
The progress was so slow I wondered if I needed to set up a camera to see if he was actually doing the workouts.
I found myself getting frustrated by his progress.
Each morning we were also going out for a run, so he was making progress there, and I hoped it would carry over to these other exercises - but that didn’t seem to be happening.
I decided to change my approach.
I told him that I had a goal to do 100 push-ups a day and made sure that he saw me doing them.
It only took a couple days and he was setting goals for how many he wanted to do – I didn’t even have to say anything to him.
It has been over six months and he has missed very few days.
It is now something our entire family is doing…what makes this so cool is that they saw it happening with my son and I and they decided they wanted to do it as well.
It hasn’t taken any persuasion or compulsion, it is just something we do – and even enjoy.
The lesson I learned is that doing something alongside my kids is more impactful than just asking them to do it – this also helps me grow as well.
Kids generally want to make progress but need strong examples to lead them.
Be the change you want to see in your kids.
The word is confusing place. As a parent, it is our duty to give our children a foundation of truth that they can build upon.
If we are going to do this, we must have that foundation ourselves.
In my opinion, the pursuit of truth is extremely rewarding – and is life’s most important endeavor.
If we are willing to take this journey ourselves, we will better understand those truths and be able to teach them to our kids.
My wife and I take time each week to teach these principles to our children. Some of it is planned, while other times it is unexpected and happens as the opportunity presents itself.
While there are many ways to have a strong influence inside your family, I personally feel like teaching these important principles is paramount.
Teach your children true principles and as they grow, help them learn how to govern themselves – this is key because you won’t always be by their side.
If we are not taking the lead on this, there are many influences who are willing to teach your kids their ideologies – to me, that is not something I am willing to accept.
Learn these truths so you can teach your children!
There are many important ways we should be having influence inside our families.
Every situation is different, and every kid is their own person, so what works for one may not work for another.
Despite how different all children are, there are fundamental truths that are relevant to each of them.
I believe what we have discussed in this newsletter to be two of them.
First, we have to be an influence for good in the lives of our kids.
Be the change inside of yourself that you want to see in them, because they are more likely to follow our lead and example – for better or worse.
Second, learn truths so that you are equipped to teach them.
Kids need a strong foundation of correct principles to help them govern their lives.
The world is full of incorrect perceptions of truth and if we follow those things, we are guaranteed to have a negative result.
It becomes our privledge as parents to learn these truths so we can teach them to our kids.
Raising kids is hard. I wish I had it all figured out.
I feel strongly that our key to finding success in doing it will be proportional to the work we put into growing ourselves.
Kids don’t require perfection from their parents, but they do expect us to be growing in the same ways we are challenging them to.
It’s okay to make mistakes, but it’s not okay to do nothing!
Keep up the good fight, your kids are worth it.
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley
Founder of Freedom Elements
This is a hard truth for most to hear, and I acknowledge that I need to focus here as much as anyone.
It is important because if we want freedom in our personal lives, understanding this concept is necessary, powerful, and even liberating.
I saw this quote on twitter and it nicely paraphrased a belief I have had for quite some time.
Here is the thought:
Nothing makes individuals meaner than the shame of their own weakness.
We can also expand weakness in this quote to include inaction, idle potential, regrets, lack of progress, low self-esteem, sins, indiscretions, etc.
I believe progress is happiness. When we are moving forward in the important areas of our lives we feel peace, contentment, and happiness.
Those feelings exhibit themselves in our actions.
The opposite is also very true. When we are stagnant or losing progress; we are surrounded by despair, darkness, and unhappiness.
This quote comes into play when we are experiencing the latter. When we feel darkness of shame, it also manifests itself in the way we treat others.
Why does this happen?
Progress is a principle of truth. It cannot be beaten or ignored. There is no hack or way around it.
We are either benefiting from its power through proper implementation or being destroyed by the lack thereof.
When we are not following true principles, the impact it has on us internally is significant and cannot be ignored – for better or worse.
It inevitably impacts the way we treat others because it’s a reflection of how we feel about ourselves.
Being a parent with young kids, I am shocked by how mean children can be – either it has gotten worse over the years, or I have forgotten this from my youth.
There are two principles I try to teach my kids to help with this issue – but it works for any age.
First, these poorly behaved kids either have a tough home environment or have something personal that they are going through that is being displayed in their actions.
They feel unhappy and are unsure of what to do. They falsely believe that hurting others will somehow help their pain.
They may also feel jealous because of the achievements of others and feel shame in their lack of personal progress – in sports, education, musical talents, making friends, etc.
The natural tendency is to tear someone down to help themselves cope with their struggle. This is what we mean by the meanness of their own shame.
Secondly, I teach them that true confidence in oneself is the best antidote to the ugliness of others.
If we feel good about who and what we are, then the actions of others won’t have a negative impact on us.
You can’t eliminate what others will say and do, but you can fortify yourself so you are unfazed by what others will throw at you.
The hope is that this example of confidence will help inspire others – especially those who are struggling.
As an adult I have seen this exact same behavior. There is an important difference those who act this way and those who do not.
Here is the difference: it doesn’t come from those who are happy with their progress.
I have noticed for myself, when I am making significant strides, I am less concerned with what others are doing. I am less critical. I am more prone to helping and lifting others.
When you are progressing, you feel light inside of yourself – opposed to darkness.
This light exhibits itself in understanding, kindness, perspective. We are less inclined to tear others down because we are happy with who and what we are.
Successful people know that ugliness is a deterrent to progress, and they are unwilling to let that destroy their momentum. They want nothing to do with it.
If you see “successful” people acting this way, it is a clear indication that they have a neglected area(s) in their lives that they are unhappy with – they are lacking progress somewhere.
By success I don’t mean just professionally and financially – that is only a small part of who we are.
It heavily relates to fitness, spirituality, emotionally, mentally, relationships, talents, goals and dreams, being free from addictions, hobbies, etc.
Our progress is heavily tied to ALL of these areas and finding balance and progress in each is what success looks like to me.
We also see this principle in action when it comes to figures of authority. Authority will greatly magnify – for better or worse – how someone feels about themselves.
If this shame is present, it will manifest itself in tyrannical behavior over whom they preside.
This is present - or at least a risk - anywhere authority is bestowed.
Parents who lack confidence or progress are at risk of taking that shame or regret out on their children in the form of punishment or unreasonable expectations.
Employers or bosses who lack competency often rule as tyrants over those whom they manage. This often stems from their own inabilities professionally or lack of personal progress in their personal life.
There are also many examples of this inside of law enforcement, politicians, religion, HOA boards, etc.
It doesn’t mean these positions are bad or unnecessary, it just means that whenever authority is granted, if it is in the hands of someone that is unhappy because of their lack of progress or weakness, that meanness will manifest itself.
As a dad I am very aware of this principle and its tendency to manifest itself. It is really difficulty for me to have a strong impact if I am not a force of good in my own life first.
Shame must be replaced with a desire to progress(more on this in next week's email).
This truth can be a powerful gauge for how we are doing personally.
Are we tearing down those who are financially successful because of our own money mismanagement?
Are we critical of those who work out because of our fitness?
Do we destroy the spiritual beliefs of others because of our own sins and indiscretions?
Are we critical of other’s success because we feel shame that we are not willing to put in the work in our own lives?
If we read these questions and are already thinking about how it applies to others and not ourselves, chances are, our progress is lacking.
When we feel discontent, we know something is off. The problem is that we often misunderstand it for shame, and this is when the ugliness comes out.
Instead, we need to use it as an internal gauge that notifies us that our progress is off – and then use it for improvement instead of destruction(shame).
We didn’t get this reaction of shame from God, rather it is an attribute we most overcome to become like Him.
The first step to overcoming our struggle(s) is to understand the principle of truth behind it.
I believe that much of our darkness comes from how we feel about our lack of progress.
The encouraging thing is that an expectation of perfection is not necessary – or even possible – if we want to benefit from this principle. Even the simple act of recognizing it can change everything.
Once we feel the light that accompanies change, we have a significant increase of power to be who and what we desire.
If you don’t currently see or feel this inside of yourself, don’t despair. Focus on the good that is inside of you. Look deeply at what needs to improve and get started today.
If we desire freedom, it’s important that we understand these emotions and learn how to use it for progress and good.
Thanks for reading,
Darron Rowley - Founder of Freedom Elements