But in that moment of self-doubt, I saw my opportunity to be bold and seize control of the situation,

L'indépendance que je croyais avoir acquise était le seul sentiment qui m'affectait. Libre et maître de moi-même, je croyais pouvoir tout faire, atteindre à tout : je n'avais qu'à m'élancer pour m'élever et voler dans les airs.

Only afterwards you realise, ‘Okay, that was happening. I can suddenly be myself again, I feel relieved and free

College has given me the confidence I need to fail.

In my inmost heart I believed that I could succeed where others failed, and now I had the opportunity to test myself.

I’m playing to be autonomous. That’s liberation, because you’re really controlling your own destiny, and it gives you the freedom to make an impact where you see fit. It’s like, ‘All right, I can do what I need to do, when I need to do it, and there’s no asking.

I learnt the real meaning of independence. Taking my own decisions, taking charge of my life and being fully responsible for the consequences of decisions made especially managing my time and my finances.

Combat was getting closer, and I took it upon myself to learn every gun that I could get my hands on. Taking initiative is part of what makes a person a little better. No one tells you to do it, but you do it.

My sense of liberation and the freedom to speak the way I want to and to feel solid in my shoes was getting stronger and stronger. That’s what helps me move through other people’s perceptions of how I should or should not be liberated. I would never listen to those rules. Don’t tell me I can’t do that. Watch me. Don’t tell me I can’t direct this movie. Watch me…

Success is fucking up on your own terms.

Freedom to be oneself is a frighteningly responsible freedom, arid an individual moves toward it cautiously, fearfully, and with almost no confidence at first... To be responsibly self-directing means that one chooses — and then learns from the consequences. So clients find this a sobering but exciting kind of experience. As one client says — “I feel frightened, and vulnerable, and cut loose from support, but I also feel a sort of surging up or force or strength in me.” This is a common kind of reaction as the client takes over the self-direction of his own life and behavior.

Taking responsibility gives me a sense of control.

I would be grateful if I was allowed to work out my own destiny for once," I said. "For good or ill.

Having chosen this foolishness, I was a free being. How could the world ever stop me, how could I betray myself, if I was not afraid?