Freedom Lost: How We Became Trapped in the Modern World

The illusion of freedom is stronger than ever. Discover how we lost control and what it takes to reclaim it.

We live in a world that tells us we are free, yet freedom lost is a reality many fail to recognize. Every aspect of our lives is shaped by freedom lost, carefully controlled by those who profit from our dependence. From the information we consume to the way we earn and spend money, invisible chains keep us bound to a system designed to benefit a few. This journey explores how freedom was lost—and what we can do to reclaim it.

The Illusion of Freedom Lost
Innocence of True Freedom
When Freedom Started Fading
Freedom Lost to Convenience
Waking Up: The Fight Begins
Reclaiming What Was Stolen

The Illusion of Freedom Lost: Are We Truly Free?

I used to ride my horse to school—six miles of open road, rain or shine. It was a time of true freedom lost, when the world felt open and unburdened by the constraints we now take for granted. Freedom lost was effortless then, woven into the rhythm of life itself. The air was crisp, the road endless, and the sky so vast it swallowed every thought I had. Hail stung my face, rain seeped through my coat, and the sun warmed my skin like an old friend. None of it bothered me. It was just part of life, part of being.

At school, we had a paddock for the horses. Sixteen kids, some with horses, some without. But we all understood the rhythm of a gallop, the weight of a saddle, the trust between human and beast. Reikorangi wasn’t just a place, it was a feeling. One you don’t realize is slipping away until it’s gone.

That feeling? It was freedom lost. The kind you don’t question until it starts disappearing. The kind that gets replaced by schedules, obligations, and invisible chains.

Now, I wonder was it always meant to fade, or was it taken from us?

The Innocence of True Freedom Lost

Back then, my world stretched 2,600 acres. Rolling hills, hidden streams, ancient trees standing tall like sentinels of a time that didn’t need clocks. My animals were my tribe. They didn’t worry about politics, money, or the latest crisis. They lived in the moment. And for a while, I did too.

The bush sang with birdsong. Sunlight danced on the water. The hills stretched farther than my young mind could fathom. Every day brought adventure, unplanned and unrestricted.

There were no notifications, no urgent emails, no invisible hand pushing me toward the next thing. Life wasn’t optimized. It wasn’t scheduled, filtered, or curated. It just was. Freedom lost wasn’t a concept it was simply life.

But then came the cracks.

The Moment Freedom Began to Slip Away

At seven, my world shifted. My small school where we rode horses and played under open skies was replaced by a much larger one. More rules. More structure. A little less me.

Six months later, I was sent to boarding school. A cold, grey building that felt more like a prison than a place of learning. They called it one of the best private schools in New Zealand, but to me, it was lifeless. The warmth of the farm, the pulse of nature, the simplicity of just being—all of it stripped away.

I didn’t understand it then, but I was being placed inside a mold. One designed for someone I had no desire to become. Freedom lost was no longer a given it was something that had to be fought for.

The Modern World: Freedom Lost to Convenience or Control?

Fast forward to today. AI runs the show. Algorithms dictate what we see, what we think, what we buy.

The internet once felt like a gateway to knowledge, to connection. Now, it’s a machine designed to extract, manipulate, and control.

We trade autonomy for convenience.
We let systems track our every move.
We consume endless content, but create little of our own.

And we call it progress.

COVID was my breaking point. The moment I saw behind the curtain. The moment I started questioning everything, systems, narratives, the neatly packaged ‘truths’ we’ve been fed since childhood.

It hasn’t been easy. But it has been necessary. And through it all, the fight for freedom lost has only grown stronger. The Hidden Cost of Convenience reveals just how much we trade away in exchange for ease and efficiency.

It hasn’t been easy. But it has been necessary. And through it all, the fight for freedom lost has only grown stronger.

Waking Up: The Fight Against Freedom Lost

Wake Up to the Lies

The world isn’t what it seems. We’ve been conditioned to accept a version of reality that serves those in power, not us. From the moment we enter the school system, we are fed carefully curated narratives, designed not to enlighten us but to control us. The news we consume, the history we are taught, the financial system we rely on, it’s all structured to keep us compliant.

The news manipulates your fears. Headlines are designed to trigger emotional reactions, not inform. Ask yourself: Who profits from the stories that dominate the media?
The education system stifles critical thinking. Schools don’t teach how to think; they teach what to think. Question the curriculum. Question the institutions that decide what knowledge is deemed ‘correct.’
The financial system keeps you enslaved. Debt, taxes, inflation, these aren’t accidental. They are mechanisms to ensure you work, consume, and remain dependent on the system.

The moment you start questioning everything is the moment you begin to reclaim your power. Who benefits from you believing what you believe? That’s the question that changes everything.

Think for Yourself

Your mind is your greatest weapon, yet too many people willingly surrender it to the highest bidder. Governments, corporations, and media giants all compete for control over your thoughts, shaping your beliefs to serve their own agendas. But you have a choice.

Question everything. Don’t accept information at face value. Dig deeper, verify sources, and recognize bias.
Break free from the narrative. Just because something is widely accepted doesn’t make it true. Challenge the mainstream story.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Learn to listen to your gut and follow your own reasoning.

Thinking for yourself isn’t just about rejecting propaganda it’s about forging your own path, one based on critical thought and unwavering self-awareness.

Take Control of Your Health

Your body is your foundation. If you don’t take care of it, you hand over your power to industries that profit from illness and dependency.

Eat real food. Avoid the ultra-processed garbage marketed as ‘healthy.’ Return to natural, whole foods that fuel and heal.
Move your body. A sedentary life is a controlled life. Strength, endurance, and vitality come from consistent movement.
Detox from poisons. This means more than just diet, it includes toxic thoughts, negative environments, and the mental programming designed to keep you weak and dependent.

When you reclaim your health, you reclaim your ability to think clearly, act decisively, and resist manipulation.

Reclaim Your Mind

Your thoughts shape your reality. Yet, from the moment you wake up, external forces battle for control over your mind. Advertisements tell you what to desire. The news tells you what to fear. Social media dictates what you should care about. It’s time to take back your mental space.

Silence the noise. Unplug from the endless stream of media and allow yourself to think freely.
Detach from fear-based narratives. The system thrives on keeping you anxious and reactive. Recognize when you’re being emotionally manipulated.
Engage in deep work. Spend time on meaningful activities that sharpen your mind rather than dull it.
Protect your mental energy. Be mindful of who and what you allow into your thoughts. The more intentional you are, the harder it is for external forces to control you.

Reclaiming your mind is about creating space for independent thought, self-reflection, and clarity. The freer your mind, the stronger your ability to resist control.

Build Autonomy

Freedom isn’t just about resisting control—it’s about creating a life where control over you is impossible. The systems in place are designed to keep you dependent, but true autonomy comes when you step outside of them and reclaim your power.

Stop relying on broken systems. Governments, banks, and corporations do not have your best interests at heart. The less you depend on them, the more control you have over your life.
Seek alternatives. Grow your own food, develop skills that make you self-sufficient, and explore alternative financial systems that reduce dependency on centralized power.
Surround yourself with people who value sovereignty over servitude. Your environment influences your mindset. Align with those who choose freedom over compliance, self-reliance over dependence.

Building autonomy means reclaiming ownership of your time, energy, and choices. The more independent you become, the harder it is for any system to control you.

Stop Sleepwalking

Life isn’t meant to be lived on autopilot. The world needs us awake, engaged, and ready to shape something better. Stop living passively. Take ownership of your choices, your actions, and your future. It’s easy to follow the script, to do what’s expected, to conform—but true freedom means stepping off that path, even when it’s uncomfortable. The moment you reclaim control is the moment you stop being a pawn in someone else’s game.

Because the power to change things? It was never in their hands.

It was always in ours.

The Awakening: Reclaiming What’s Ours

The world I knew—the one of horses, open skies, and unfiltered connection—feels like a distant dream. But the lessons it left me with? They’re still real.

Freedom lost isn’t a given. It’s a responsibility. A fire we either tend to or let die.

And if we let it die?

We have no one to blame but ourselves.

True freedom lost is not just about escaping control; it’s about reclaiming what was always ours. The more we recognize this, the stronger we become. The world may try to rewrite the meaning of freedom lost, but as long as we hold onto it, live it, and fight for it, we will never truly lose it.

The world I knew, the one of horses, open skies, and unfiltered connection, feels like a distant dream. But the lessons it left me with? They’re still real.