Summary: Flags, fireworks, and food sum up the traditional way Independence Day is celebrated. Welcome to July 4th. But before we fall into another loop of red, white, and blue, let’s pause and ask the underlying question that the Founders discussed over and over as they planned a new way in the 13 colonies.
Dear Dr. Sylvia,
I was discussing the Declaration of Independence with my teenage children today.
The three of them, ages fourteen to nineteen, love the idea of speaking about what independence means to them.
My eldest said, “Let’s talk about what we want and what we don’t want in our lives moving forward.”
I would love to incorporate some of your thoughts on pattern repetition, pattern transformation, and becoming Pattern Pioneers in this increasingly divided and complex world we live in.
Thanks for helping us
Signed,
Patriot
Dear Patriot,
Your teens are onto something., The big question for all of us now, similar to that of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and so many others, is:
“What am I no longer willing to tolerate?”
Because that’s what July 4th is really about.
Not just independence from an empire, but from excuses, fear, and limitations.
So now, halfway through 2025, I ask you:
What’s YOUR Declaration of Independence?
This isn’t about history. It’s about your story.
What do you need to break free from, in your workplace, your family life, or in the invisible corners of your mind, to lead with clarity and confidence?
Here are a few common chains disguised as “just the way it is”
At Work: Here are some of the patterns from which to break free
- I declare independence from toxic meetings with no purpose or outcome.(rebel)
- I will no longer say yes when I mean no. (pleaser)
- I refuse to be micromanaged. I will trust and expect trust in return.(victm)
- I release the pressure to be available 24/7 and reclaim time to think, rest, and lead.(martyr)
At Home: Consider Patterns you learned from your family of origin
- I declare independence from the emotional baggage I’ve carried for years. (denier)
- I will not keep the peace at the cost of my own peace. (rescuer)
- I am done over-functioning for others who are perfectly capable.(super achiever)
- I will stop playing roles that no longer serve who I am becoming.(splitter)(procrastinator)
Write Your Own Declaration
Take a moment today, yes, between burgers, tofu, and fireworks. Write down your personal Declaration of Independence for the rest of 2025.
Keep it raw. Keep it real. Make it yours.
Here’s a jumpstart:
“I, [Your Name], on this 4th day of July, declare independence from [fill in the blank]. I claim my right to lead with integrity, to speak with truth, and to live without apology for being fully myself, at work and at home.”
Could you put it on your fridge or near your computer? Please post it on LinkedIn. Read it every Monday morning until December 31st.
Freedom Isn’t the Goal. It’s the Starting Line.
True freedom is not about escaping something. It’s about choosing how you show up every single day.
You get to choose:
- To stop dragging the past into the present. Remember, you must complete it, or you will repeat it.
- To show up in meetings and dinner conversations with presence and purpose. Get past the Invisible Stress that holds you hostage.
- To lead without losing yourself. Be a visionary that people will respect and follow.
Declare it. Claim it. Then act like it’s already true.
Final Firework
What got you here doesn’t have to get you there.
You are not stuck. Consider the fact that you are not small. Remember, you are not “just surviving until vacation.”
You’re a leader in the making, or the remaking.
So make this Independence Day count.
And if you’d like to take it deeper, I invite you to join our Pattern Pioneer™ member community, where we help leaders like you transform old patterns into bold action, every week.
Write your Declaration. Share Your Breakthrough. Let’s Finish 2025 Stronger Than Ever.
Happy Independence Day, inside and out.
To your success,
Sylvia Lafair
PS. Be one of the first 25 people to sign up for our new membership, free for the first year. Contact us for more information.
