Principle 7 Life

How can I live freely while taking responsibility for my place within Life?

Right — To live freely and participate in Life with dignity.

Responsibility — To respect the freedom and dignity of others, recognise our interdependence with the living world, and steward what is within our influence with care for Life beyond ourselves.

In practice: Life includes our freedom to shape a life of our own and our responsibility within the living world we share. People may choose different relationships, beliefs, work and ways of living. That freedom sits alongside the equal dignity of others and the effects of our choices on animals, habitats and future generations. Reflection helps us recognise what is within our influence and how to act with dignity, decency and respect for life.

For example, planning a shared garden can involve room for different human uses alongside attention to water, habitats and the lives already present there.

A question to sit with (optional): What freedom matters in shaping my life, and how do my choices affect other people and the living world?