If you ask a thousand people what freedom means to them, you’ll hear a thousand different answers.
Some will say it’s health. Others will say it’s finding love—or letting go of a relationship that no longer serves them. Some will point to financial success, career breakthroughs, or even just having more time.
And there’s nothing wrong with wanting these things. They’re beautiful, worthy aspirations and we all deserve to experience the fulfillment they can bring. But, they do not equal freedom. They might bring relief, enjoyment, or a temporary sense of satisfaction—but they don’t guarantee the kind of freedom that nourishes the soul. Real freedom is something else entirely.
Freedom is the absence of internal chaos. It’s the ability to move through life untethered from the voices in your head that say, You’re not enough. You’re not there yet. You can’t be happy until… these are the negative echoes of the ego and true liberation means transcending the ego—in our thoughts, beliefs, words, and actions.
The kabbalists teach that each year, the cosmic window of time that Pesach provides offers us a powerful opportunity to disconnect completely from the ego—which is the root of all negativity. The ego is what keeps us tethered to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that lower our consciousness, create division between ourselves and others, and sever our connection to our true essence and the Creator. During the week of Pesach, we can transcend the ego and achieve complete alignment with the Light of the Creator—a total separation from darkness, chaos, and pain—through elevating our consciousness.
You can begin by asking these questions:
What are you a slave to?
Is it how you look?
How much you earn?
Your relationship status?
Pleasing your family or your friends?
Your job title?
The approval of others?
Take a moment to really examine it. Where have you handed your sovereignty over to something—or someone—outside of yourself?
It reminded me of a moment with my family around the dinner table. My oldest son, David, asked all of us, his siblings included, something unexpected:
“What do you think is my worst trait?”
I was stunned. Who asks that? It was such a raw, brave, vulnerable thing to say—especially in a group setting. It’s the kind of question I would’ve never dared ask when I was younger, back when I was terrified of negative feedback (even though it ended up finding its way to me anyway).
But in that moment, I was moved. I remember thinking, I want to be like that. That open. That courageous.
We all answered eventually—some of us more gingerly than others—but I was silently praying that everyone would be gentle. Honest, yes. But also kind. Everyone gave their answers, except Josh. David gently pressed him to speak, really encouraging him to share.
Finally, Josh replied, “Nothing matters to you.”
It hit like a dart. At first, it felt harsh. But as with most of Josh’s insights, there was something profound underneath it—something true. What we all came to understand was that sometimes, in the pursuit of goals and growth and achievement, it’s easy to lose sight of the people and things that matter most. It’s easy to forget our deeper connections. To each other. To the present moment. To your essence. To the Creator.
I’m not saying that’s what David was doing, but it’s a trap any of us can fall into—especially when we become overly focused on material things or circumstances.
And we can’t be free and trapped at the same time.
As we move into Pesach, we’re invited into a powerful moment. A spiritual 24-hour window where the gates are wide open. It is a perfect time to observe our thoughts—really observe them.
Are they kind, or impatient?
Are they full of gratitude, or anxiety?
Are they rooted in soul, or hijacked by ego?
Use this sacred window to catch the slippery thoughts that whisper:
“If only this one thing were different, then I’d be happy.”
“Once I have [fill in the blank], everything will finally fall into place.”
“Why hasn’t the Creator answered my prayers yet?”
But what if the Creator has? What if you were happy, right now? What if everything was perfect right now, today?
Can you see what you already have as miraculous?
This Pesach, we have the opportunity to set ourselves free from the bonds of the ego and the false lens of negativity. A chance to exit our own personal Egypt. Let’s stop being slaves to what we think we lack. Let’s stop waiting for the perfect conditions before we give ourselves permission to feel peace. Let’s return to what’s already here. To what’s already enough.
That is real freedom.
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