freedom to express yourself essay

The inhabitants of the North American colonies did not have a legal right to express opposition to the British government that ruled them. Nonetheless, throughout the late 1700s, these early Americans did voice their discontent with the Crown. For example, they strongly denounced the British parliament's enactment of a series of taxes to pay off a large national debt that England had incurred in its Seven Years War with France. In newspaper articles, pamphlets and through boycotts, the colonists raised what would become their battle cry: "No taxation without representation!" And in 1773, the people of the Massachusetts Bay Colony demonstrated their outrage at the tax on tea in a dramatic act of civil disobedience: the Boston Tea Party.

The early Americans also frequently criticized the much-despised local representatives of the Crown. But they protested at their peril, for the English common law doctrine of "seditious libel" had been incorporated into the law of the American colonies. That doctrine permitted prosecution for "false, scandalous and malicious writing" that had "the intent to defame or to bring into contempt or disrepute" a private party or the government. Moreover, the law did not even accommodate the truth as a defense: in 15th century England, where absolute obedience to the Crown was considered essential to public safety, to call the king a fool or predict his demise was a crime punishable by death.

The colonies' most celebrated seditious libel prosecution was that of John Peter Zenger in 1735. Zenger, publisher of the 'New York Weekly Journal', had printed a series of scathing criticisms of New York's colonial governor. Although the law was against Zenger, a jury found him not guilty -- in effect, nullifying the law and expressing both the jurors' contempt for British rule and their support for a free and unfettered press. After Zenger's acquittal, the British authorities abandoned seditious libel prosecutions in the colonies, having concluded that such prosecutions were no longer an effective tool of repression.

The stage was set for the birth of the First Amendment, which formally recognized the natural and inalienable right of Americans to think and speak freely: "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Following are the ACLU's answers to questions we have been asked by members of the public about the history of the First Amendment and the freedoms it guarantees.

What Were the Philosophical Underpinnings of the First Amendment's Guarantees?

James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and the other framers of the Bill of Rights were products of the Age of Enlightenment . They eschewed the superstitions and intolerance of earlier times, believing instead in the power of reason, the search for truth, and the perfectability of human society. Freedom of inquiry and liberty of expression were clearly essential to the process of debate and discovery that they viewed as indispensable to the achievement of human progress.

Questioning of authority was also a central theme of the Enlightenment era. The philosophers of the day well understood the tendency of government to perpetuate itself by enacting repressive measures to silence those opposed to its conduct. According to one libertarian thinker of the period, a citizen had the right to "say everything which his passions suggest; he may employ all his time, and all his talents...to do so, in speaking against the government matters that are false, scandalous and malicious," and yet he should be "safe within the sanctuary of the press." Speech was regarded as beyond the reach of criminal sanctions; only "overt acts" could be punished.

Given the primacy that the framers assigned to the values the First Amendment embodies, it is fitting that freedom of expression should be the first freedom cited in the Bill of Rights.

Why Does Freedom of Expression Play Such a Critical Role in Our Constitutional System?

There are four primary reasons why freedom of expression, which encompasses speech, the press, assembly and petition, is essential to a free society:

First, freedom of expression is the foundation of self-fulfillment. Self- expression enables an individual to realize his or her full potential as a human being. The right of individuals to express their thoughts, desires, and aspirations, and to communicate freely with others, affirms the dignity and worth of each and every member of society. Thus, freedom of expression is an end in itself and should not be subordinated to any other goals of society.

Second, freedom of expression is vital to the attainment and advancement of knowledge. The eminent 19th century civil libertarian, John Stuart Mill, contended that enlightened judgment is possible only if one considers all facts and ideas, from whatever source, and tests one's own conclusions against opposing views. But the right to express oneself is not conditioned on the content of one's views, which may be true or false, "good" or "bad," socially useful or harmful. All points of view should be represented in the "marketplace of ideas" so that society can benefit from debate about their worth.

Third, freedom of expression is necessary to our system of self-government. If the American people are to be truly sovereign, the masters of their fate and of their elected government, they must be well-informed. They must have access to all information, ideas and points of view. The precondition for a free society is an informed and enlightened citizenry. Tyrannies thrive on mass ignorance.

Fourth, freedom of expression provides a "check" against possible government corruption and excess , which seem to be permanent features of the human condition.

Restrictions on freedom of speech always authorize the government to decide how, and against whom, the restrictions should apply. The more authority the government has, the more it will use that authority to suppress unpopular minorities, criticism and dissent. Because freedom of expression is so basic to a free society, the ACLU believes that it should 'never' be abridged by the government.

What Was the Early History of the First Amendment and Freedom of Expression?

The First Amendment's early years were not entirely auspicious. Although the early Americans enjoyed great freedom compared to citizens of other nations, even the Constitution's framers, once in power, could not resist the strong temptation to circumvent the First Amendment's clear mandate. In 1798, seven years after the First Amendment's adoption, Congress, over the objections of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, passed the Alien and Sedition Act . Ironically, this Act incorporated much of the English law of seditious libel (indeed, seditious libel remained a part of our law for the next 171 years), and was used by the dominant Federalist Party to prosecute a number of prominent Republican newspaper editors. But none of those cases reached the Supreme Court.

Throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th, federal and state sedition, criminal anarchy and criminal conspiracy laws were used repeatedly to suppress expression by slavery abolitionists, religious minorities, early feminists, labor organizers, pacifists and left-wing political radicals. For example, prior to the Civil War every Southern state passed laws limiting speech in an attempt to stifle criticism of slavery. In Virginia, anyone who "by speaking or writing maintains that owners have no right of property in slaves" was subject to a one-year prison sentence.

In 1929, feminist Margaret Sanger was arrested for giving a lecture on birth control. Trade union meetings were banned and courts routinely granted employers' requests for injunctions that prohibited strikes and other labor protest. Protest against U.S. entry into World War I was widely suppressed, and dissenters were jailed for their pronouncements and writings. In the early 1920s, many states outlawed the display of red or black flags, symbols of communism and anarchism. In 1923, author Upton Sinclair was arrested for trying to read the First Amendment at a union rally. Many people were arrested merely for membership in groups regarded as radical by the government. It was in response to the excesses of this period that the ACLU was born in 1920.

How Did the Courts Respond to First Amendment Violations?

The lower courts were almost universally hostile to the First Amendment rights of political minorities. However, free speech issues did not reach the Supreme Court until 1919. That year, the Court dealt with free speech for the first time in the case of ' Schenck v. U.S. ' Charles T. Schenck, a member of the Socialist Party, had been convicted of violating the Espionage Act for mailing anti-war leaflets to draft-age men during World War I. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld his conviction. The prevailing legal view at the time was that any speech that had a "tendency" to cause a violation of law could be punished.

The 'Schenck' case was quickly followed by others that ended in decisions equally contemptuous of First Amendment freedoms. Among them was the case of Jacob Adams , convicted under the Sedition Act of 1918 for distributing leaflets that criticized the American military. However, even though the Supreme Court upheld Abrams' conviction, the decision in his case was a watershed: Justices Oliver Wendell Holmes and Louis D. Brandeis dissented, stating that speech could not be punished unless it presented "a clear and present danger" of imminent harm. The Holmes-Brandeis dissent marked the beginning of modern First Amendment theory.

The Supreme Court declared the inviolability of First Amendment rights for the first time in 1925 in Gitlow v. New York , a case that challenged the conviction of a communist revolutionary under New York's Criminal Anarchy law . Although the Court affirmed the conviction, it announced that freedom of speech and press were protected by the First Amendment from federal encroachment, and "are among the fundamental personal rights and 'liberties' protected by the states." This holding paved the way for Yetta Stromberg to prevail, six years later, in an appeal of her conviction under a California law that made it a crime to publicly salute a red flag -- the symbol of revolution.

Thereafter, the right to freedom of expression became more secure -- that is, up until the advent of McCarthyism in the 1950s. During this second "red scare," the Supreme Court weakened the "clear and present danger" test by holding that speakers could be punished if they advocated overthrowing the government, no matter how remote the danger of such an occurrence might be. Under this new test, many political activists were prosecuted and jailed for advocating communist revolution. Laws that required people to sign loyalty oaths, swearing that they were not members of any subversive organizations, were also upheld and not reversed until 1967.

Finally, in the 1969 case of Brandenberg v. Ohio , the Supreme Court struck down the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan member under a criminal syndicalism law and established a new standard: Speech may not be suppressed or punished unless it is intended to produce "imminent lawless action" and it is "likely to produce such action." Otherwise, the First Amendment protects even speech that advocates violence. The 'Brandenberg' test is the law today.

What Forms of Expression Are Protected by the First Amendment?

In addition to protecting " pure speech ," expressed in demonstrations, rallies, picketing, leaflets, etc., the First Amendment also protects " symbolic speech " -- that is, nonverbal expression whose main purpose is to communicate ideas. In the 1969 case of 'Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District', the Supreme Court recognized the right of high school students to protest the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands. In 1989 and again in 1990, the Court upheld the right of an individual to burn the American flag in public as an expression of disagreement with government policies. Other examples of protected expression include images in works of art, slogans or statements on T-shirts, "fashion statements" that incorporate symbols and/or written slogans or declarations, music lyrics and theatrical performances.

As well as protecting a free " marketplace of ideas " within our nation, the First Amendment also protects free trade in ideas across U.S. borders (although the law in this area is less well-defined). That protection encompasses both the right of Americans to travel and disseminate their ideas abroad, and their right to receive information from other countries -- in other words, their right to know . As Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. once observed, "The right to receive publications is a fundamental right...It would be a barren marketplace of ideas that had only sellers and no buyers."

Can Speech Be Curtailed If It Is Thought to Jeopardize National Security?

At several points in our history, particularly during wartime, the government has sought to limit speech in the interest of " national security ," a vague term that, if construed too broadly, can be used to justify the suppression of information vital to public discourse.

The ongoing controversy that surrounds competing claims of national security and freedom of expression came to a head in 1971 in the 'Pentagon Papers' case. 'The New York Times' obtained a copy of, and published excerpts from, the so-called Pentagon Papers , a voluminous secret history and analysis of the nation's military involvement in Vietnam. When the 'Times' ignored the government's demand that it halt such publication in the interest of national security, the newspaper was enjoined from continuing to publish portions of the document. Two weeks later, on expedited appeal, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not, through "prior restraint," block publication of any material unless it could prove that the material would "surely" result in "direct, immediate, and irreparable" harm to the nation. Since the government had not met its burden of proof, the 'Times' was free to continue the series.

While the Court's decision represented a victory for freedom of speech and the press, it did strike an ominous note by tacitly accepting a national security exception to the First Amendment's ban on prior restraint. And in subsequent years, the Court upheld the government's national security claims in several cases involving former CIA agents who had written their memoirs.

The ACLU believes that national security, like all government interests, must be served only in ways that are consistent with our tradition of respect for individual rights.

Why Should Racists and Other Hatemongers, or Those Espousing Anti-Democratic Political Doctrines, Have Free Speech Rights?

The Constitution does not authorize the government to assess the content of speech and the curtail the speech it judges to be irresponsible or wrong. If the government had such power, we would all be in danger. All people within the borders of the United States have the right to express themselves freely, even, in the words of Justice Felix Frankfurter, if they "speak foolishly and without moderation." In a society of laws, the laws must apply to everyone.

The ACLU's defense of the free speech rights of groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party has often stirred controversy and drawn criticism. But popular and palatable ideas do not need protection from government suppression; only unpopular and offensive doctrines do. As one federal judge has put it, our toleration of hateful speech is "the best protection we have against any Nazi-type regime in this country."

The Supreme Court has consistently rejected the notion that speech can be punished because it offends some people's sensibilities, and has generally invalidated statutes and practices that penalize expression based on content. The Court has also taken a dim view of breach-of-the-peace statutes when applied to expressive conduct. In the 1949 case of Terminiello v. Chicago , the Court struck down the disorderly conduct conviction of an anti-Semitic priest (suspended by the church for his views), who had provoked a violent confrontation when he denounced Jewish people at a political rally. The Court's decision, written by Justice William O. Douglas, stated: "The function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it invites a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger."

Can Free Speech Be Limited in Any Way?

The government may place " time, place and manner " restrictions on speech as long as they are "reasonable." For example, requiring people to obtain a permit to hold a meeting in a public building, or to conduct a demonstration that may interfere with traffic, constitutes a justifiable regulation.

But restrictions that are overly burdensome violate the First Amendment. For example, during the 1960s, officials in Southern cities frequently required civil rights activists to apply for permits in order to hold demonstrations, and then granted or denied the permits arbitrarily. Thus, in the 1969 case of Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham , the Supreme Court struck down such licensing schemes as unconstitutional. Similarly, in 1977, the Court ruled that the local government's requirement that members of the American Nazi Party post $350,000 in insurance in order to hold a march and rally in Skokie, Illinois was an unconstitutional infringement on the group's First Amendment rights. Insurance requirements were also regularly used in the South to repress civil rights demonstrations.

Are Any Forms of Expression Not Protected by the First Amendment?

The Supreme Court has established several limited exceptions to the First Amendment's protections:

• Fighting Words: In the 1942 case of 'Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire', the Supreme Court held that so-called "fighting words...which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace" are not protected by the First Amendment and can be punished. The Court based its decision on the concept that such utterances are of "slight social value as a step to truth."
• Libel: In the 1964 case of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court held, in a groundbreaking decision, that defamatory falsehoods published about public officials are not protected by the First Amendment and can be punished if the offended official can prove that his/her accuser published the falsehoods with "actual malice" -- that is, with the "knowledge that the statement was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not." While the Court's decision addressed a particular type of common law libel, other kinds of "libelous statements" are also punishable.
• Commercial Speech: In the 1976 case of Virginia Pharmacy Board v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, the Supreme Court struck down a state ban on prescription drug advertising on First Amendment grounds. However, commercial speech -- which includes advertising, financial and credit reports, and the like -- still has far less First Amendment protection than other speech. Generally, it can be banned if it is, on the whole, misleading or takes undue advantage of its audience.
• Obscenity: "Obscene" material has historically been excluded from First Amendment protection, which has led to the official banning of such classics as James Joyce's Ulysses and D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterly's Lover, as well as the criminal prosecution of countless publishers, book distributors, storekeepers, film distributors and artists. But in the 1973 case of 'Miller v. California', the Court re-examined the issue and established a standard for determining whether material is obscene. The Court ruled that material is legally obscene if: (1) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would conclude that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interests; (2) it depicts sexually explicit conduct, specifically defined by law, in a patently offensive manner; and (3) it lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. The 'Miller' test is still the law today.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court's long-standing unwillingness to strike down all obscenity laws as unconstitutional infringements on freedom of expression has allowed censorship to flourish at various times in our history because of public officials' tendency to apply the Court's narrow limits in overbroad ways. This remains a problem with all of the limited exceptions to the First Amendment.

Is Freedom of Expression in Danger Today?

The right to freedom of expression is being severely tested today, just as it has been throughout the 200-year history of the Bill of Rights. Governments by nature are always seeking to expand their powers beyond proscribed boundaries, the government of the United States being no exception. And since the right to free expression is not absolute, it must be constantly protected against official depredations.

Today, artistic expression is under attack, as some groups of citizens seek to impose their morality on the rest of society. Book censorship in the public schools, mandatory record labeling, as well as obscenity prosecutions of rap singers, record distributors and museum directors, are all manifestations of suppression efforts. Artists, performers and authors now occupy the same vulnerable position that political radicals did in the 1950s.

If the past two centuries of struggle to preserve freedom of expression have taught us anything, it is that the first target of government suppression is never the last. Whenever government gains the power to decide who can speak and what they can say, the First Amendment rights of all of us are in danger of being violated. But when all people are allowed to express their views and ideas, the principles of democracy and liberty are enhanced.

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What Is Self-Expression? (20 Activities + Examples)

We all have our own unique quirks and traits, and we all have our own preferences and style for sharing pieces of ourselves with those around us.

You likely have a different level of sharing comfort with each person in your life—like a sort of security clearance in which those closest to you have a “Level 5” clearance while acquaintances have a “Level 1” clearance.

How we share and express ourselves to others forms the basis of our personality, as understood by everyone but us, and sets the tone for our entire lives. It’s a vital aspect of life to pay attention to, especially if you want to feel more understood and more in tune with the people you care about.

The way that we share ourselves is known as self-expression, and it turns out there are a lot of ways to do it. There are few “wrong” ways of expressing yourself, but there are some things you can do that give you a better chance of hearing and being heard than others.

Read on to learn how to more effectively express yourself to others, get in touch with your authentic self, and enhance your self-expression skills.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will not only help you increase the compassion and kindness you show yourself but will also give you the tools to help your clients, students or employees show more compassion to themselves.

This Article Contains:

What is the meaning of self-expression a definition, self-expression theory in psychology, the importance of self-expression, examples of self-expression, how to improve self-expression skills, techniques for developing self-expression, activities to increase self-expression for adults, project ideas and worksheets (pdf), self-expression through photography, art, music, dance, fashion and poetry, does social media promote self-expression, books on self-expression, 13 self-expression quotes, a take-home message.

I think we all have a pretty good handle on what self-expression is, but let’s see how the experts define it:

“We define self-expression as expressing one’s thoughts and feelings, and these expressions can be accomplished through words, choices or actions.”

(Kim & Ko, 2007).

This is an intuitive definition—self-expression is, at its core, the action of expressing yourself, and it can take a wide variety of forms. You can use your words, your facial expressions, your body, your movements, clothing, actions, and possessions to express your authentic inner self .

Although the idea is simple, it seems that few fully grasp the importance of self-expression. We are all so bogged down with messages about how we should look, think, speak, and act; what we should eat and drink and study and do for fun; who we should associate with and who we should love or despise; and, indeed, who we should be deep down.

These constant missives about what we ought to do and who we ought to be can make it difficult to let go of expectations and simply be ourselves.

The last paragraph may have resonated with you—as it resonates with me—but as we’ll see later, the value we have for self-expression is not a universally shared value.

For example, Kim and Ko (2007) note that self-expression is one of the most highly-regarded and venerated values in Western civilization due to the near-deification of “the individual” in our society. Not only is self-expression a vital practice of Western culture, it is also baked into the very roots of psychology. After all, psychology is all about the study of the mind, including the self, others, and groups of people.

The way we learn about the mind is through the expression of individuals—verbally or otherwise (Kim & Ko, 2007).

While those of us in the West have embraced individualistic norms and practices, including self-expression, other cultures have upheld collectivist values and—in some cases—placed little to no value on individualism. For instance, the Arab world is less prone to individualistic views and more likely to value tradition, religion, and authority (Inglehart et al., 2014).

Self-Expression Values

The differences across cultures and countries in the values they hold are fascinating; as noted above, countries in the Middle East are generally at the opposite end of the spectrum from Western countries on the two major axes of values:

• Traditional versus secular-rational values
• Survival values versus self-expression values (Inglehart et al., 2014)

Countries in North America and Western Europe generally fall on the secular-rational end (although the US and Ireland are two outliers when it comes to religion and tradition) and the self-expression end of the spectrums.

This indicates that Western countries tend to place less importance on traditional family values, religion, and obedience and more importance on environmental protection, social justice, and tolerance of different viewpoints and ways of life (Inglehart et al., 2014).

East Asia countries generally fall in the secular-rational/survival values section (as seen below), meaning they do not place as much importance on tradition and religion, but they place great value on economic and physical security.

The Inglehart-Welzel World Cultural Map – World Values Survey 7 (2022). Source: http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/

In some places, self-expression values might be considered “indicative of egoism and weak social capital” instead of the key to happiness and actualization that many Western countries consider them to be (Welzel, 2010). Needless to say, the value placed on self-expression varies widely across cultures and countries.

Not only are the differences in self-expression values interesting, they raise a good point: can there be a comprehensive theory of self-expression that encompasses and explains self-expression across the globe?

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Related to our discussion above, the importance of self-expression will vary depending on your location and the culture you are steeped in. As the World Values Survey showed, individualism is not highly valued in many countries. This fact makes the sentence below—a pretty tame idea by Western standards—anything from mildly strange to outright laughable in another context.

“The journey of self-discovery is the most important journey we can take”

(De la Huerta, 2014).

In many cultures, a journey of self-discovery would be considered odd, unusual, a waste of time, or even selfish; the people might say something like, “Why spend your time and effort on getting to know yourself? Just ask your family—they’ll tell you exactly who you are!”

However, given the largely Western audience of positive psychology, we’ll focus on the importance of self-expression in this context.

De la Huerta’s (2014) article provides a good brief overview of why self-expression is so important in our society. He argues that self-expression is a vital piece of the puzzle that is fulfillment in life ; it allows us to be our best selves, reach our full potential, and make valuable contributions to the world we live in.

Authentic self-expression is how we embrace who we are, all the way from the positive traits and acts we keep on the surface to the darker and less valued pieces of ourselves that we bury deep down.

“Neuroscience is teaching us that ‘self-expression’ might be one – if not the most important ways for people to connect, navigate and grow with each other.”

Judith Glaser

Research Judith Glaser agrees on the importance of self-expression; she notes that authentic self-expression not only encourages us to be the best we can be, it allows us to work effectively with others. When we open up and express ourselves, we move from what she calls a state of protection (coddling our ego and manning our inner walls to protect ourselves) to a state of partnering (being open to sharing yourself with others and vice versa).

According to Glaser, this state is where we get our best and most innovative work done. Acting in alignment with our authentic selves activates our prefrontal cortex, giving us greater access to our higher-order abilities like creative and innovative thinking, problem-solving, and planning.

Two artists and educators, Jay M. Hanes and Eleanor Weisman, agree that self-expression is not only important for our relationship with ourselves and our relationships with others, it’s also vital for our work. They propose that we learn about ourselves through expressing ourselves, reflecting on our core self and engaging in creative learning that will benefit us in all walks of life and all disciplines and industries (Hanes & Weisman, 2016).

This may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s not—people around you are expressing themselves every day in many ways, all you need to do is look for it.

Common ways that people in your life might express themselves include:

• Sharing details about their day and how it made them feel.
• Wearing an off-trend or outdated item of clothing, not to be cool and unique, but just because they like it.
• Playing guitar on the street without a hat, cup, or other container set up to take donations.
• Yelling to express their frustration about traffic or other hindrances to getting from A to B.
• Employing body language (either consciously or unconsciously) that tells you exactly how someone feels about him- or her-self, whether it’s tall and proud, slumped and defeated, or anywhere in between.

If you were so inclined, I’m sure you could come up with a list of 100 acts of expression that you saw in the last week alone. That’s probably not necessary—I’m sure you have a good grasp on what self-expression is—but it’s important to be reminded how often people share themselves with us and how often we have the opportunity to share ourselves with others in our daily lives.

Why can’t I express myself? – Rafael Eliassen

As with most skills, the best way to improve your self-expression skills is to practice them! Self-expression skills include—but are not limited to—the following:

• Body language
• Artistic endeavors (creating music, dancing, etc.)

Author and student learning guru John Ramos agrees; in an answer to the question-and-answer forum Quora, he provides the following pieces of advice (2016):

• Write (almost) everyday… It forces you to find the right words and expressions to convey your message.
• Emulate your favorite authors’ styles. (Note: you could also emulate your favorite poets, dancers, orators, musicians, etc.).
• Never lose a chance to speak in public.
• Apply winning formulas (particularly for public speaking, as there are many tricks and “secret weapons” to help you succeed).

All of the exercises, techniques, activities, and strategies listed below will give you great opportunities to practice your own self-expression skills!

Peggy Schmidt from Scholastic Parents proposes the following seven strategies (and several techniques to implement these strategies) to encourage a child to build their self-expression skills:

• Teach your child to interpret spoken and body language. a. Look at photographs of people expressing different emotions and discuss them. b. Cut out a cardboard frame to act as a “mirror” and have your child(ren) mimic your expression and identify it. c. Use everyday situations in your home to reinforce these lessons. d. Make a game of identifying the emotions that go with a particular tone of voice.
• Reinforce the concept of “personal space” by encouraging your child to: a. Stay at arm’s length when he or she is talking to someone. b. Make sure there’s space between him or her and other children when sitting together. c. Avoid hugging someone he or she doesn’t know well. d. Refrain from intruding on another child’s space by touching, pinching, or physically annoying him or her.
• Explain the meaning of idiomatic expressions (explain jokes, idioms, puns, “turns of phrases,” etc.).
• Work on the art of conversation. a. Initiate conversations with your child, particularly when there are no salient distractions around. b. When you don’t understand something your child says, ask your child what he or she means. c. Encourage your child to ask you questions and respond attentively to them. d. Make good eye contact and ask your child to do the same. e. Encourage your child to stay in control of his or her body when he is talking—no fidgeting or squirming! f. Work at having successively longer conversations as he or she gets better at self-expression. g. Have conversations with your child about things beyond routine, everyday stuff.
• Model behavior that teaches the smart way to ask for help or a favor. a. Explain what the favor is. b. Rehearse what you’re going to say when you ask for the favor. c. Have your child listen to your conversation.
• Demonstrate the power of “please” and “thank you” as more than just good manners, but excellent tools.
• Teach your child how to listen and follow directions. a. Get his or her attention through touch as well as your voice. b. Be specific about what you want him or her to do. c. Check for understanding when you ask your child to do something. d. Compliment your child on following the directions and successfully completing the task (Schmidt, 2001).

With pre-teens and teens, you may want to upgrade your techniques and make things more organic. Follow these 10 tips from the Scholastic Parents Staff to encourage self-expression in your pre-teens and teens:

• Encourage your child to dance to express him- or herself (a dance-focused video game might be helpful here).
• Help your child design a website or blog to share his or her thoughts and feelings with family and friends, or include your child in the process of writing a family newsletter.
• Do a creative and expressive craft with your child, like creating jewelry or painting something without any constraints.
• Celebrate your child’s style by allowing him or her to dress however they’d like (given that it’s age-appropriate).
• Support your child engaging in sports, whether solo sports, team sports, or both.
• Encourage your child to mentor younger children to practice their own skills and do a good deed.
• Give your child a camera and let him or her snap away!
• Get outdoors and do a nature-oriented activity together (e.g., take a walk, go for a hike, do some gardening).
• Ask your child to take you on a guided tour of his or her classroom, the library, or somewhere else he or she spends a lot of time.
• Help your child make a video documentary about him- or herself, including their current likes and dislikes, strengths , interests, and passions (Eulberg, n.d.).

If you’re looking for techniques to enhance your own self-expression skills, there are some helpful general tips that can give you some guidance. Give these six tips a try:

• Speak your truth in the moment. Instead of looking back on a conversation and wishing you had been more honest and authentic, commit to being more honest and authentic in the moment. Promise yourself to speak your truth when the opportunity arises, but make sure to speak it with love and kindness .
• Widely define yourself. As psychiatrist Thomas Szasz notes, “…the self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates.” Make sure that your definitions aren’t overly narrow or limiting and keep yourself open to new experiences, talents, interests, passions, and opportunities.
• Engage in creative techniques. Use techniques that harness your creativity to expand your potential and enhance your life. Try keeping a daily journal in which you write about whatever comes to mind, keeping an idea book that you carry with you all the time, creating mind maps to help you problem-solve, practicing brainstorming, and creating vision boards to motivate you to follow your dreams.
• Acquire self-knowledge – Know who you are. Don’t let yourself get too caught up in all of life’s little worries; take a break from your daily grind once in a while and assess your life and your feelings about it. Use introspection and reflection to make sure you never become a stranger to yourself.
• Pursue wants and passions voraciously. If your passions and dreams have become victims to the day-to-day stressors, dedicate yourself to keeping them off the metaphorical “back burner.” Make time to pursue your dreams and feed your passions—you won’t regret it!
• Develop a keen sense of reality. Your head may venture into the clouds, but your feet should stay firmly on the ground; keep in touch with reality and face your disappointments, setbacks, and unpleasant experiences head-on (“How to Live with Full Self-Expression”, n.d.).

These are somewhat general tips, but truly committing to them will help you become the master of your own self-expression. For some more specific, practical ideas on improving your self-expression, read on.

This section includes 15 activities that you may find useful (plus a link to 70 more!).

To work on improving your capacity for self-expression and encourage your practice of being authentically you, you may find this impressively long list of 75 group activities from the Expressive Therapist website helpful. It includes activities like:

• Inner Child : Draw yourself as a child on your paper. Add images and words to give this child everything that it needs, including a supportive nurturing parent.
• Inside – Outside Bags/Boxes : Decorate a bag or box with images and words on the outside to represent the qualities you show to the world. Decorate the inside of the bag or box with images and words that represent the inner qualities that are hidden to most people.
• Inspired Poem : Think of a quote that is meaningful to you and write it at the top of a piece of paper. (A list can be found at http://www.goodreads.com/quotes ) Add your own lines below it that expand on the quote in the way you understand it – continue for the rest of the page. Find someone in the group to read your poem for you as you use movement or gesture to express the meaning of your poem.
• Four Elements of You : Discussion: Passion gives us the will to live and gives shape to our lives. Fold your paper into four sections. Label each section, The Earth of Me, The Air of Me, The Fire of Me, and The Water of Me. Use image and color to express your passion in life as symbolized by the four elements.
• Bardic Circle : Sitting in a circle, everyone takes a turn sharing something with the group, such as performing a song, a dance, a poem, a joke, or an interesting fact, or teaching a new skill. Everyone is encouraged to be supportive and attentive when others share.

If you’re working your way through addiction, rehabilitation, recovery, or perhaps even striving towards post-traumatic growth , these activities from Summit Behavioral Health (2015) might help:

• Listen to music to help you identify your feelings; if you are in a group, share out what you learned.
• Take a mindful walk (stay aware of yourself and your surroundings, make observations about your environment, and avoid judgment as much as possible).
• Write a new ending to a previous event, particularly an event that involved conflict, bad decisions, or mistakes on your part. This will help you learn how to make better choices and stay more optimistic.
• Build, create, or restore something to encourage yourself on your own journey toward a healthier, happier you.
• Create a visual journal using signs, symbols, drawings, or anything else to express your feelings aside from words.

If you’re interested in enhancing your self-expression specifically in the workplace , Judith Glaser has some great suggestions (2016):

• Consider taking on a project like Glaser’s Children’s World, in which she and her team collected stories and pictures from schoolchildren, compiled them into a book, and actually published it (side note: it included material from over 500 students!).
• Kick off a meeting by asking people to share a recent personal story and a business story that they are enthusiastic or excited about.
• Complete the “What I Respect About You and What I Need From You” exercise to get to know your team better and identify strengths, needs, likes and dislikes, and how to avoid certain pitfalls with your colleagues.
• Collect your team’s success stories and publish them in a book, pamphlet, or brochure.
• Publish your organization’s success stories on your company intranet and solicit advice and suggestions from your organization’s members on how to achieve future success.

Music is considered a universal “language of the emotions” (Cooke, 1959).

Through music, we can evoke complex emotions and create mood states that might be difficult to categorize as positive or negative by only using words. Even before a baby is born, exposing a fetus to music helps the brain develop, calms and soothes, brings up emotions of love and joy, and strengthens the mother-child relationship (UNICEF, 2022).

Scientist John Stuart Reid (2019) discovered that music can even support our bodies to heal naturally by awakening our red blood cells. An increased red blood cell amount leads to a decrease in chronic pain, high blood pressure, poor immune system, stress, depression, and traumas.

Ask your client to write down three songs that describe how they are feeling at the moment. Reflect on the following questions with your client:

• When you hear this song, what comes to your mind?
• How does this song make you feel?
• Which part of the song is the most important to you?

This exercise aims to help your clients communicate feelings and concerns by using music as a multi-dimensional medium to “translate” personal experiences. Because your client will identify and describe the upcoming emotions, emotional awareness can be further developed through this technique.

Those fond of making lists, checking boxes, drawing things out, and any other form of expression that involves using a pen and paper might find these projects and worksheets especially useful. There are also a few worksheets that you can use with your child to encourage their own capacity for self-expression. Read on to get some ideas!

Your Pet Worksheet

This worksheet encourages kids to think about how they express their thoughts and ideas. It can be used to encourage them to consider what details are important and which are superfluous, help them figure out how to best get the words into their head onto paper, and show them how to tie it all together into a clear, comprehensive narrative.

First, your child can fill in the “Main Idea” bubble in the center, writing about their pet, noting what kind of pet they have and what is most important to know about that pet.

Next, they can work on filling in the supportive details. The prompts can help them figure out what they should be writing and help them comes up with more ideas; these prompts include:

• How long have you had your pet?
• What is your pet’s name?
• Describe your pet’s personality—playful, loving, quiet, funny, loyal?
• What does your pet look like? Describe your pet.

Click here to read more about this worksheet or download it for your child (please note that a free account with Education.com is required to download some of their free resources).

All About Me Worksheet

This is another worksheet for kids that is simple, easy to complete, but helpful for your child’s writing and self-expression skills. It can also be helpful for handwriting practice, engaging in creative thinking, and breaking the ice with a new classmate.

First, the worksheet asks for just the basics:

• The child’s name
• The child’s place of birth

Next, the worksheet moves on to the more individual aspects of preferences and interests:

• Favorite colors
• Favorite hobbies
• Favorite foods to eat
• Favorite place to visit
• Favorite movie

Finally, the last three prompts are where your child can really get thoughtful, creative, and personal:

• “I laugh and smile when…”
• “I will make the world a better place by…”
• “My dream is to…”

To download this worksheet for use with your own child, click here (this worksheet is hosted on Education.com, which requires a free membership for the use of some of their resources).

What Makes Us Alike & Different

A final worksheet for kids focuses on similarities and differences between the child and others. Completing this worksheet can help your child not only learn more about other people, other cultures, and other ways of life, but it can also help him get to know himself better.

First, the worksheet explains that there are tons of people in the world, but we’re all different. We might come from different cultures, countries, or backgrounds, but we all have at least a few things in common.

Next, the child is instructed to compare him- or herself to a friend or family member and consider these questions:

• What makes you alike?
• What makes you different?

In the space below these instructions is a table split into three columns, one with each of the following headings:

• How you are alike
• What makes your friend different?

For each column, your child should think of some things that apply. How is she different from her friend? Where do the differences come from? Are they superficial, or pretty big differences?

Next, she can think about how she and her friend are alike. What do they have in common? What can they agree on or relate to one another about?

When your child has completed this worksheet, he will be more knowledgeable about different cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles than before, and hopefully on his way to being tolerant and friendly to all.

Click here to download this worksheet from Education.com as well (like the previous worksheets, it requires a free membership to download).

Self-Expression Worksheet

This worksheet comes from SpiritSpring Coaching and offers you an opportunity to learn more about self-expression, get some suggestions on how to practice it more often, and work on engaging your self-expression muscles, so to speak. It references religion since SpiritSpring is a religious organization, but the activity itself does not require faith in any religion or spiritual being to successfully complete it.

First, you will respond to 10 statements about your current self-expression on a 3-point scale (seldom true, sometimes true, and often true). These statements are:

• I am inspired by and through authentic self-expression.
• I communicate what is in my heart.
• I express wholeness; there is no part of me or my life that is not fully embraced.
• My own words and actions reflect consciousness and clarity.
• My communication is honest, timely, and complete. I do not deceive, delay, or diminish when I speak my truth.
• I know when I am expressing myself authentically and when I’m not.
• I invite honesty and truth-telling.
• I am aware of the impact of my words and actions.
• My words and actions contribute in a positive way to myself and others.
• There is integrity between who I am, what I say and how I act.

For each statement, you will pick a response on the scale mentioned above and also provide an example of the statement in action in your life.

Next, you will answer some questions and respond to some prompts to help you get even more in touch with yourself and how you generally express yourself. These questions and prompts are:

• Describe a current situation in your life where you are being real.
• What’s at stake in that situation or relationship? What could you gain or lose?
• Describe a current situation where you have not been being real?
• What’s at stake in that situation? What could you gain or lose?
• What could you do to turn the second situation around, so that you’re being real?

By completing this worksheet, you will have discovered your approximate level of skill and practice in self-expression, identified an area in which you are best at expressing yourself and an area in which you are lagging in self-expression and come up with a plan to work on your weaknesses when it comes to expressing yourself. That’s a lot of punch to pack into one worksheet!

To give it a try, click here (clicking the link will begin a download of the worksheet).

The Five Messages Worksheet for Self-Expression and Self-Inquiry

Finally, this worksheet from The Seven Challenges Workbook is a great way to work on your self-expression skills. It covers the five main “messages” or elements of self-expression and guides you through identifying and considering each one.

The idea is that there are five “I messages” that correspond to five elements of experiencing and communicate different things to those around you.

The five elements and messages are:

1. “What actions, events, and/or sensations am I seeing, hearing, doing, remembering or otherwise sensing (the facts without evaluation)?” As I (or when I) see (hear, remember, take action about)…

2. “What basic emotions am I feeling (glad, sad, mad, delighted, frustrated, proud, sorry, ashamed, grateful, etc.) about those actions/events? …I feel (or felt)…

3. “What interpretations, evaluations, wants, hopes, needs, and/or dreams of mine help to evoke and support my feelings?” …because I…

4. “What action, information, discussion, help, or commitment do I want, would I like, and/or do I want to request now?” …and now I want (want to request)… [Something doable]

5. “What positive results or personal fulfilment do I envision that action, discussion, information, or commitment leading to?” …so that I can / so that we can / in order for me or us to…

Filling in the blanks on this worksheet will help you take a peek into your inner experience and understand it better in addition to expressing it better. At the end, you’ll have a sort of sentence describing your experience. It will look something like this, although customized to your situation:

“As I see [element 1]… I feel [element 2]… because I [element 3]… and now I want [element 4]… so that I can [element 5].”

This exercise is a great way to get in touch with your inner self and figure out what you want, what you value, your thought patterns and emotional tendencies, and discover how you can move forward.

Click here to download the worksheet (an automatic download will initiate when you click the link).

We often think of self-expression as involving speech and perhaps some actions as well—provided they are creative.

People have found wonderful outlets for self-expression through speaking and writing prose, but also through practicing photography, creating art, creating or sharing music, choreographing a dance routine (or coming up with some moves on the spot!), creating and/or wearing pieces that reflect your inner self, and crafting meaningful poems.

It’s true that creative activities are often a great way to express yourself, but don’t forget about the many other ways available to you! In truth, anytime you are behaving in accordance with your true, authentic self and doing anything other than sitting still, you are likely engaging in self-expression—although performance artists have certainly been able to express their thoughts and ideas through the act of simply sitting!

You might be thinking of another pretty obvious method we all have of expressing ourselves: social media. It is indeed one of our many options, but it could prove to be a double-edged sword.

There’s some debate about that, with persuasive arguments both for and against.

As far as research goes, researchers have studied the relationship between self-esteem , self-expression, and usage of the popular social media site Facebook, and found that social media may be seen as a valuable tool for expressing oneself for those with low self-esteem and/or social anxiety (Leighton, Legate, Lepine, Anderson, & Grahe, 2018).

However, as rapidly as social media changes, so too does our understanding of its effects on us; by 2016, social media users were likely to report that Instagram and Snapchat were useful tools for self-expression, but Facebook and Twitter were not (Leighton et al., 2018).

The bottom line? Social media certainly facilitates expression! But how much of that expression is an authentic expression of our true selves? That question has yet to be answered.

If you’re intrigued by self-expression or want to learn more about how to boost your own capacity for self-expression, you might benefit from some further reading. Take a look at these 9 books on the subject and see if any of them catch your fancy:

• Self-Expressions: Mind, Morals, and the Meaning of Life by Owen Flanagan ( Amazon )
• A Big New Free Happy Unusual Life: Self Expression and Spiritual Practice for Those Who Have Time for Neither by Nina Wise ( Amazon )
• Illness and the Art of Creative Self-Expression: Stories and Exercises from the Arts for Those with Chronic Illness by John Graham-Pole ( Amazon )
• Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self-Expression with your Camera by Steve Sonheim and Carla Sonheim ( Amazon )
• Mastering the Art of Self-Expression by Laura Thoma ( Amazon )
• Self-Expression by Mitchell S. Green ( Amazon )
• Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life by Paul Ekman ( Amazon )
• Creating Mandalas: For Insight, Healing, and Self-Expression by Susanne F. Fincher ( Amazon )
• Affirmations #1 For Health, Wealth, Relationships, and Self-Expression by Joseph Murphy ( Amazon )

17 Exercises To Foster Self-Acceptance and Compassion

Help your clients develop a kinder, more accepting relationship with themselves using these 17 Self-Compassion Exercises [PDF] that promote self-care and self-compassion.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

To get motivated, inspired, or in touch with your authentic self, sometimes a good quote can help. Check out these 13 quotes below.

“Good things will come from self-expression.”

“If you have the words, there’s always a chance that you’ll find the way.”

Seamus Heaney

“Everybody is talented because everybody who is human has something to express.”

Brenda Ueland

“If there’s one theme in all my work, it’s about authenticity and self-expression. It’s the idea that some things are, in some real sense, really you—or express what you and others aren’t.”

Bernard Williams

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”

Martha Graham

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”

Ansel Adams

“Self-expression should not be a challenge that demands extraordinary talent but should be a right accessible to all.”

Deeyah Khan

“Self-expression is always a right, but it’s still not there to be abused.”

Isaac Hayes

“If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.”

Noam Chomsky

“Everyone has their own ways of expression. I believe we all have a lot to say, but finding ways to say it is more than half the battle.”

“To the poet fated to be a poet, self-expression is as natural and as involuntary as breathing is to us ordinary mortals.”

Octavio Paz

“If you copy then it is not self-expression.”

Michael Schenker

“I want freedom for the full expression of my personality.”

Mahatma Gandhi

I hope you found this piece helpful and informative, and I hope that I successfully expressed myself and my thoughts on this subject.

If you leave with one takeaway, let it be this: there is no downside to furthering your ability to express yourself, but there are tons of potential benefits. Learning to understand yourself and more effectively share that understanding with others is a fundamental part of being human, and we’re so lucky that we have so much influence over how that process unfolds!

Take advantage of that fact and you will avoid looking back with regret when you think about all the things you should have said.

What are your thoughts on self-expression? Do you think it’s one of the most important values in our society? Is it one of the most important values to you? How do you like to express yourself? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and best of luck in enhancing your capacity for self-expression!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Self Compassion Exercises for free .

• Cooke, F. L. (1959). The value of psychological treatment in general practice. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 2(3) , 231-238
• De la Huerta, C. (2014). The power of self-expression. The Huffington Post . Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christian-de-la-huerta/the-power-of-self-expression_b_5167635.html
• Eulberg, E. (n.d.). 10 activities to encourage self-expression in pre-teens. Scholastic Parents. Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/parents/family-life/social-emotional-learning/social-skills-for-kids/10-activities-to-encourage-self-expression.html
• Glaser, J. E. (2016). Self-expression: The neuroscience of co-creation. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/conversational-intelligence/201602/self-expression
• Hanes, J. M., & Weisman, E. (2016). Experience and expression. Education and Culture, 32(2), 64-79.
• “How to Live with Full Self-Expression.” (n.d.). Virtues for Life. Retrieved from http://www.virtuesforlife.com/how-to-live-with-full-self-expression/
• Inglehart, R., C. Haerpfer, A. Moreno, C. Welzel, K. Kizilova, J. Diez-Medrano, M. Lagos, P. Norris, E. Ponarin & B. Puranen et al. (Eds.). 2014. World Values Survey: Round Five – Country-Pooled Datafile Version: www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSDocumentationWV5.jsp. Madrid, Spain: JD Systems Institute.
• Kim, H. S., & Ko, D. (2007). Culture and self-expression. In C. Sedikides & S. Spencer (Eds.), Frontiers of social psychology: The self (pp. 325-342). New York, US: Psychology Press.
• Leighton, D. C., Legate, N., LePine, S., Anderson, S. F., & Grahe, J. (2018). Self-esteem, self-disclosure, self-expression, and connection on Facebook: A collaborative replication meta-analysis. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 23, 98-109.
• Ramos, J. (2016). Answer: How do I improve my expression skills? Quora. Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-improve-my-expression-skills
• Reid, J. S. (2019). Cymatics, the science of visible sound and vibration. Journal of Science and Healing, 15(4) , 262-269.
• Schmidt, P. (2001). Communication is key: Try these 7 strategies to build your child’s self-expression skills. Scholastic Parents. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1439
• Summit Behavioral Health. (2016). 5 activities of self-expression to make dealing with emotions in recovery easier. Summit Addiction Recovery Blog. Retrieved from https://www.summitbehavioralhealth.com/blog/5-activities-self-expression-make-dealing-emotions-recovery-easier/
• UNICEF. (2022). The State of the World’s Children 2022: Childhood under threat. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/media/118821/file/SOWC-2022.pdf
• Welzel, C. (2010). How selfish are self-expression values? A civicness test. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 41 , 152-174.

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What our readers think.

A note that “e. Encourage your child to stay in control of his or her body when he is talking—no fidgeting or squirming!” is harmful – it was from an old source and it’s since become consensus that stimming is healthy self-regulating behavior and that suppressing it can cause or worsen things like anxiety, over- or understimulation, difficulty with attention, and excess energy, especially for neurodivergent people. I’d caution against teaching “d. Refrain from intruding on another child’s space by touching” too – research shows that cultures that avoid physical contact have worse wellbeing. So it’s better to teach children to keep physical contact to friendly, casual settings and people they get along with and to check in and ask others if they feel comfortable with it.

I really appreciated this well written article, especially how parents can help children. I also appreciated that you mentioned just sitting and doing nothing is a form of self- expression, or whatever you feel is a way of expressing yourself. For example, if you are inclined toward helping others, then volunteering at a food bank or for Hospice would be considered a form of self- expression. There are countless things that only require a person’s time in order to express themselves. This country is filled with people like that. We all learned that during the early days of the pandemic when we were in quarantine. We saw so many ways people were giving of their talents and their time to make life easier for all of us. If that isn’t a form of self- expression, I don’t know what is! I’ll never forget Andrew Lloyd Weber showing us all his musicals for everyone to enjoy, and inviting others to send videos of them singing his songs. Or John Krasinski starting “Some Good News,” to uplift us all. They shared their self-expression with everyone. The newscasters even gave us ideas to try something new. That greatly enhanced the self-expression of the entire country, and helped us to see how important it is in our lives, even with little or no money. We saw the highest form of self -expression; love in action. Doesn’t cost a dime. Thanks for writing this article to remind us all of that .

Thank you so much for the article. You gave us very useful information and almost everything, one needs to look for to understand self-expression. Your content, especially at the end was intended for children and parents and for adults too, which is good. I want to point out that Self-Expression in western nations is not as good as you presented since capitalism and materialistic mindset is still highly prevalent in western nations(Side note- you used all researches really well to explain).Also I would like to invite you to study Indian traditional philosophies and teachers who placed the importance of self-realization as the basis of their traditions. Thank You.

This was a beautiful article. Welldone!!

Thank you, helpful article

Thank you. This article opened a whole new space in my head

Great Article! Very helpful. I see the effort you have put into it. Congrats!

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3 Self-Compassion Tools (PDF)

Essays About Freedom: 5 Helpful Examples and 7 Prompts

Freedom seems simple at first; however, it is quite a nuanced topic at a closer glance. If you are writing essays about freedom, read our guide of essay examples and writing prompts.

In a world where we constantly hear about violence, oppression, and war, few things are more important than freedom. It is the ability to act, speak, or think what we want without being controlled or subjected. It can be considered the gateway to achieving our goals, as we can take the necessary steps. 

However, freedom is not always “doing whatever we want.” True freedom means to do what is righteous and reasonable, even if there is the option to do otherwise. Moreover, freedom must come with responsibility; this is why laws are in place to keep society orderly but not too micro-managed, to an extent.

5 Examples of Essays About Freedom

1. essay on “freedom” by pragati ghosh, 2. acceptance is freedom by edmund perry, 3. reflecting on the meaning of freedom by marquita herald.

• 4.  Authentic Freedom by Wilfred Carlson

5. What are freedom and liberty? by Yasmin Youssef

1. what is freedom, 2. freedom in the contemporary world, 3. is freedom “not free”, 4. moral and ethical issues concerning freedom, 5. freedom vs. security, 6. free speech and hate speech, 7. an experience of freedom.

“Freedom is non denial of our basic rights as humans. Some freedom is specific to the age group that we fall into. A child is free to be loved and cared by parents and other members of family and play around. So this nurturing may be the idea of freedom to a child. Living in a crime free society in safe surroundings may mean freedom to a bit grown up child.”

In her essay, Ghosh briefly describes what freedom means to her. It is the ability to live your life doing what you want. However, she writes that we must keep in mind the dignity and freedom of others. One cannot simply kill and steal from people in the name of freedom; it is not absolute. She also notes that different cultures and age groups have different notions of freedom. Freedom is a beautiful thing, but it must be exercised in moderation. 

“They demonstrate that true freedom is about being accepted, through the scenarios that Ambrose Flack has written for them to endure. In The Strangers That Came to Town, the Duvitches become truly free at the finale of the story. In our own lives, we must ask: what can we do to help others become truly free?”

Perry’s essay discusses freedom in the context of Ambrose Flack’s short story The Strangers That Came to Town : acceptance is the key to being free. When the immigrant Duvitch family moved into a new town, they were not accepted by the community and were deprived of the freedom to live without shame and ridicule. However, when some townspeople reach out, the Duvitches feel empowered and relieved and are no longer afraid to go out and be themselves. 

“Freedom is many things, but those issues that are often in the forefront of conversations these days include the freedom to choose, to be who you truly are, to express yourself and to live your life as you desire so long as you do not hurt or restrict the personal freedom of others. I’ve compiled a collection of powerful quotations on the meaning of freedom to share with you, and if there is a single unifying theme it is that we must remember at all times that, regardless of where you live, freedom is not carved in stone, nor does it come without a price.”

In her short essay, Herald contemplates on freedom and what it truly means. She embraces her freedom and uses it to live her life to the fullest and to teach those around her. She values freedom and closes her essay with a list of quotations on the meaning of freedom, all with something in common: freedom has a price. With our freedom, we must be responsible. You might also be interested in these essays about consumerism .

4.   Authentic Freedom by Wilfred Carlson

“Freedom demands of one, or rather obligates one to concern ourselves with the affairs of the world around us. If you look at the world around a human being, countries where freedom is lacking, the overall population is less concerned with their fellow man, then in a freer society. The same can be said of individuals, the more freedom a human being has, and the more responsible one acts to other, on the whole.”

Carlson writes about freedom from a more religious perspective, saying that it is a right given to us by God. However, authentic freedom is doing what is right and what will help others rather than simply doing what one wants. If freedom were exercised with “doing what we want” in mind, the world would be disorderly. True freedom requires us to care for others and work together to better society. 

“In my opinion, the concepts of freedom and liberty are what makes us moral human beings. They include individual capacities to think, reason, choose and value different situations. It also means taking individual responsibility for ourselves, our decisions and actions. It includes self-governance and self-determination in combination with critical thinking, respect, transparency and tolerance. We should let no stone unturned in the attempt to reach a state of full freedom and liberty, even if it seems unrealistic and utopic.”

Youssef’s essay describes the concepts of freedom and liberty and how they allow us to do what we want without harming others. She notes that respect for others does not always mean agreeing with them. We can disagree, but we should not use our freedom to infringe on that of the people around us. To her, freedom allows us to choose what is good, think critically, and innovate. 

7 Prompts for Essays About Freedom

Freedom is quite a broad topic and can mean different things to different people. For your essay, define freedom and explain what it means to you. For example, freedom could mean having the right to vote, the right to work, or the right to choose your path in life. Then, discuss how you exercise your freedom based on these definitions and views. 

The world as we know it is constantly changing, and so is the entire concept of freedom. Research the state of freedom in the world today and center your essay on the topic of modern freedom. For example, discuss freedom while still needing to work to pay bills and ask, “Can we truly be free when we cannot choose with the constraints of social norms?” You may compare your situation to the state of freedom in other countries and in the past if you wish. 

A common saying goes like this: “Freedom is not free.” Reflect on this quote and write your essay about what it means to you: how do you understand it? In addition, explain whether you believe it to be true or not, depending on your interpretation. 

Many contemporary issues exemplify both the pros and cons of freedom; for example, slavery shows the worst when freedom is taken away, while gun violence exposes the disadvantages of too much freedom. First, discuss one issue regarding freedom and briefly touch on its causes and effects. Then, be sure to explain how it relates to freedom. 

Some believe that more laws curtail the right to freedom and liberty. In contrast, others believe that freedom and regulation can coexist, saying that freedom must come with the responsibility to ensure a safe and orderly society. Take a stand on this issue and argue for your position, supporting your response with adequate details and credible sources. 

Many people, especially online, have used their freedom of speech to attack others based on race and gender, among other things. Many argue that hate speech is still free and should be protected, while others want it regulated. Is it infringing on freedom? You decide and be sure to support your answer adequately. Include a rebuttal of the opposing viewpoint for a more credible argumentative essay. 

For your essay, you can also reflect on a time you felt free. It could be your first time going out alone, moving into a new house, or even going to another country. How did it make you feel? Reflect on your feelings, particularly your sense of freedom, and explain them in detail. 

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Freedom Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on freedom.

Freedom is something that everybody has heard of but if you ask for its meaning then everyone will give you different meaning. This is so because everyone has a different opinion about freedom. For some freedom means the freedom of going anywhere they like, for some it means to speak up form themselves, and for some, it is liberty of doing anything they like.

Meaning of Freedom

The real meaning of freedom according to books is. Freedom refers to a state of independence where you can do what you like without any restriction by anyone. Moreover, freedom can be called a state of mind where you have the right and freedom of doing what you can think off. Also, you can feel freedom from within.

The Indian Freedom

Indian is a country which was earlier ruled by Britisher and to get rid of these rulers India fight back and earn their freedom. But during this long fight, many people lost their lives and because of the sacrifice of those people and every citizen of the country, India is a free country and the world largest democracy in the world.

Moreover, after independence India become one of those countries who give his citizen some freedom right without and restrictions.

The Indian Freedom Right

India drafted a constitution during the days of struggle with the Britishers and after independence it became applicable. In this constitution, the Indian citizen was given several fundaments right which is applicable to all citizen equally. More importantly, these right are the freedom that the constitution has given to every citizen.

These right are right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion¸ culture and educational right, right to constitutional remedies, right to education. All these right give every freedom that they can’t get in any other country.

Value of Freedom

The real value of anything can only be understood by those who have earned it or who have sacrificed their lives for it. Freedom also means liberalization from oppression. It also means the freedom from racism, from harm, from the opposition, from discrimination and many more things.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Freedom does not mean that you violate others right, it does not mean that you disregard other rights. Moreover, freedom means enchanting the beauty of nature and the environment around us.

The Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is the most common and prominent right that every citizen enjoy. Also, it is important because it is essential for the all-over development of the country.

Moreover, it gives way to open debates that helps in the discussion of thought and ideas that are essential for the growth of society.

Besides, this is the only right that links with all the other rights closely. More importantly, it is essential to express one’s view of his/her view about society and other things.

To conclude, we can say that Freedom is not what we think it is. It is a psychological concept everyone has different views on. Similarly, it has a different value for different people. But freedom links with happiness in a broadway.

FAQs on Freedom

Q.1 What is the true meaning of freedom? A.1 Freedom truly means giving equal opportunity to everyone for liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Q.2 What is freedom of expression means? A.2 Freedom of expression means the freedom to express one’s own ideas and opinions through the medium of writing, speech, and other forms of communication without causing any harm to someone’s reputation.

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What's a Freedom of Expression and Should I Submit One?

If you're applying to TCU and wonder what “Freedom of Expression” (FOE) means on your application checklist, we're here to offer some insight. First and foremost, this is a completely optional (and we do mean optional; less than 7% of applicants will submit an FOE) part of your application. It is designed to give students the opportunity to fully express themselves while applying to TCU.   What is an FOE, anyway? It's essentially another way to show us your personality through a piece of writing, photography, video, art or anything you create. We've received many physical FOEs in the past, and while we treasure these and have kept many in our offices over the years, it's a bit easier to send us a link or upload a photo through your application .

Do I have to submit one? Absolutely not — in fact, only about 6 percent of applicants and 7 percent of admitted students submit an FOE . That means there are a whole lot of people who are admitted without submitting this optional piece of the application. On the other hand, submitting an FOE won't guarantee your chances of admission either. We're looking for applicants with strong academic records and involvement in their school and community, so think of an FOE as a supplement to your application. What should I submit if I do choose this option? To help us get to know you even better, consider this opportunity to further express yourself. The only limitations are the boundaries of your imagination. As you can see in the video, we've received a wide array of physical FOEs but we mainly prefer to receive these digitally now. You can submit an essay, poem, work of art or a URL that showcases another side of you.

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