Freedom reaches its fulfillment when it becomes a gift. In this way, commitment is the highest expression of personal decision; and everything is grounded in the person and their personality, as we explored in the first article of this series.
The “Yes” That Changes a Life
In life, there are decisions that may seem small but actually shape the entire future. A “yes” spoken in freedom can commit one’s whole existence. Consider the moment of accepting a job that will guide a professional trajectory, or, with even greater depth, the “yes” that unites two people in marriage.
That instant holds a paradox: it is a simple act, yet its reach is immense. According to the philosopher Leonardo Polo, freedom is not exhausted by choosing between options. Freedom is fulfilled when it becomes a gift, when it is surrendered in a commitment.
Commitment: The True Fullness of Freedom
In our culture, commitment is often interpreted as a loss of freedom. Getting married, deciding on a vocation, or taking on a stable responsibility is frequently seen as “tying oneself down.”
However, Polo’s proposal is the opposite: to commit does not mean losing freedom, but rather bringing it to its fullness.
A person finds their meaning when their freedom does not remain “unreleased” (inédita), but is actualized in a promise that transcends it. Commitment is that freedom which gives itself, risking itself for someone or something that is truly worthwhile.
Everyday Examples of Freedom and Maturity
In all these cases, freedom becomes a source of stability and fruitfulness:
- In the family: The commitment of parents to their children is much more than an obligation; it is the expression of a freedom given out of love.
- In friendship: The implicit promise of being there for the other in both joy and difficulty.
- In work: When someone takes on their task not as a mere formality, but as service and contribution, manifesting unity of life.
Freedom, Future, and Transcendence
Commitment also implies a dimension of the future. To promise means to open oneself to what is to come, to faithfully sustain a decision even when circumstances change. It is a human way of anticipating and shaping the future.
Therefore, commitment is not a limit imposed from the outside: it is the expression of the most radical freedom, capable of transcending the present moment and projecting itself forward.
A Transforming Gift
When freedom becomes commitment, the person themselves is transformed. One no longer lives only for oneself, but gives one’s own life as a gift. And that gift, when accepted by others, fertilizes new realities: a family, a friendship, a community.
In simple words: freedom reaches its truth when it is given. And that gift has a specific name: commitment.
Graciela Soriano
Articles from the series: Bond, Freedom, and Human Maturity
- Person and personality: a crucial distinction.
- Freedom Reaches Its Fullness When It Becomes a Gift.
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