The Independence We Forget: Freedom From the Need to Be Someone Else
Every August 15, we celebrate India’s Independence Day with flags, songs, parades, and a deep sense of pride. We remember the freedom from British Rule that was fought for and won. But there is another kind of independence we rarely talk about: the freedom to be ourselves.
Think about it. How often do we make choices based on what we want—and how often do we quietly wonder, “What will people think?”
We choose careers because they sound impressive. We stay in relationships because leaving feels disappointing. We measure success by someone else’s definition. We compare our lives with carefully edited versions of other people’s lives on social media.
And somewhere along the way, we can become very good at being who everyone expects us to be.
That isn’t really freedom, is it?
True independence begins when we stop asking, “Who should I be?” and start asking, “Who am I?”
This is one of the beautiful lessons I find in Tarot. The Fool card doesn’t begin the journey with all the answers. He simply trusts himself enough to take the first step. The Devil card reminds us of the invisible chains we create through fear, attachment, and conditioning. And the Star card reminds us that even after we have lost our way, we can find our light again.
Perhaps we all need a little of that journey.
This Independence Day, ask yourself:
What am I doing because I genuinely want to?
Whose approval am I still seeking?
What version of myself have I outgrown?
And perhaps the most important question: If I wasn’t afraid of being judged, what would I choose?
You don’t have to quit your job, leave your relationship, or reinvent your entire life tomorrow. Inner freedom often begins much more quietly—with one honest decision, one boundary, one “no,” or one brave “yes.” Independence isn’t about becoming someone who doesn’t need anyone. It is about becoming someone who doesn’t need to abandon themselves to be accepted by others.
My dear readers, this Independence Day, celebrate the freedom that was won for us. But also celebrate the freedom we can choose for ourselves. The greatest freedom may simply be the courage to return to who you were before the world told you who you should be. Happy Independence Day. 🇮🇳
“True independence is not the freedom to become whoever the world wants you to be; it is the courage to return to who you truly are.”
Written by Maanya Kohli, one of India’s most trusted Tarot readers and founder of Lady of Tarot.
