Freedom, Van Life & Career Clarity: Lessons from the New F1 Movie with Brad Pitt

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A Movie That Sparked Something Deeper

Last night, I watched F1: The Movie starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. The story follows Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a former Formula 1 prodigy whose career was nearly destroyed by an accident. Thirty years later, he’s convinced to return to racing alongside rising star Joshua Pearce (Idris). On the surface, it’s a story about racing and redemption—but what stuck with me most wasn’t the speed or the competition. It was the subtle, soulful message hidden beneath the surface: What does freedom really mean?

As someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward movies, I was surprisingly engaged—not just because my 18-year-old son loved it, but because it left me with questions I couldn’t shake.

Van Life and the New American Dream

One visual that stayed with me was Sonny Hayes’ van life setup. Minimalist, mobile, and refreshingly detached from conventional housing, his choice of lifestyle made me pause. It made me wonder: What brings someone to live in a van over choosing the socially accepted lifestyle of a house, a mortgage, and a 9–5?

Van life isn’t just about aesthetic minimalism or chasing Instagram-worthy sunrises—it represents a redefinition of freedom for an entire generation. More and more people are trading traditional security for flexibility, self-trust, and aligned living.

Redefining Freedom in a Society Obsessed with Productivity

For most of my life, I believed freedom equaled financial wealth. I thought it meant having enough passive income to wake up whenever I wanted, say “no” without consequence, and live entirely on my own terms.

But lately, I’ve been feeling the pull to reimagine freedom—not as the absence of responsibility, but as intentional ownership over the life I choose to build.

Is freedom the ability to float aimlessly with no commitments? Or is it the power to choose your commitments—your projects, your work, your relationships—with deep clarity and purpose?

 💫 Inspired to explore what freedom looks like for you in this new season?
I’ve curated items that reflect what soul-aligned, intentional living feels like for me—tools that ground me, help me slow down, and reconnect with the life I want to create. The mood board below is a visual representation of that feeling—while the items shown are for inspiration, they may not reflect the exact products linked in the  Freedom Amazon list.

👉 Click here to explore the “Redefining Freedom” Amazon List
Think cozy simplicity, spiritual clarity, creative journaling, and van life vibes—all symbols of reclaiming your power on your own terms.

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What Freedom Means to Me Now

In this new season of my life and business, freedom feels spiritual. It’s not about evading the hard stuff—it’s about standing in my power and knowing I can walk away from anything that no longer aligns.

Freedom is knowing that every responsibility I take on—from my career to my relationships—is mine by choice, not by force or societal expectation. It’s the quiet confidence of knowing I get to redefine success, on my terms, every day.

It’s waking up to a life that’s built with intention. Not one that floats by default.

The Real Bottom Line—Peace and Power

One of my favorite quotes says:

“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” — Unknown

To me, that’s freedom. Choosing to build a life—even a business—that supports my inner peace, rather than disrupts it. That’s the art of flying upstream.

What Does Freedom Mean to You?

So now I ask you:

• What does freedom mean to you?
• Is it van life and flexibility?
• Is it having enough financial security to say no?
• Or is it the spiritual strength to choose, pivot, and realign whenever your soul asks you to?

Because as Brad Pitt’s character says in the film: “Hope is not a strategy.”

Real change requires intention—and action.

Start Defining Freedom for Yourself

If you’re ready to start uncovering what’s truly standing between you and the life or business you actually want, I created something for you.

Download your free reflection guide: “Where Are You Right Now?” A soulful workbook to help you:

• Get emotional clarity
• Reconnect with your self-worth
• Map your next brave move

🎁 Grab your free workbook here and get early access to the upcoming Flying Upstream Masterclass. Let’s stop waiting and start building a life in alignment—with purpose, power, and peace.

✨ Ready to go even deeper into the meaning of freedom, fear, and living a life that’s truly yours?

In this inspiring episode of Flying Upstream, 104: From Playing It Safe to Living Fully: How Jennie Milton Turned Fear Into Freedom, Kristyn sits down with adventurer and women’s empowerment advocate Jennie Milton to explore what it really takes to live with courage. From a soul-awakening trip to Alaska to teaching fear tolerance through adventure, Jennie’s story is a powerful reminder that bravery is a muscle—and freedom is a choice.