Liberty means responsibility.
That is why most [people] dread it. George Bernard Shaw
An excellent example of escaping from spiritual freedom and responsibility is giving in to conformity—not trusting what is felt, relinquishing your intelligence to principles that no longer serve the present life. 
Many learned spiritual directives at the knee of parents and others at the feet of imagined authority. Some do not trust the intuitive messages of the Self, and hand over obligations for others to manage. Upon closer analysis, individuals discover creative ways of giving up freedom, by conforming or hiding their head in proverbial sand, through blind allegiance to various organizations including political parties and religious institutions. The problem with blind allegiance is handing over responsibility for actions, reactions, thoughts, and deeds is damaging to one's spiritual and mental progression. If one cannot think and do for themselves, then they are in danger of becoming sheep. In this way, individuals happily give up values to authority, who, in actuality, have no authority except through social inheritance or endowment.
Another way of avoiding responsibility can arise through the flawed belief that one is powerless. There are many factors, which appear to render a person powerless. A person can perceive themselves as a victim of their environment, of various spiritual forces, the unconscious belief that one has no control over her or his own life, or maybe a victim of genetics. While an existential approach will recognize that all of these factors may influence a person, none of them renders a person powerless or completely controls them.
Some are committed to a belief system or organization, and feel comfortable bending the rules where it does fit their desires. It becomes easy to bend rules because they are not really committed to the underlying values system. However, when a person is deeply committed to authentic moral or value principles, they are less willing to act in ways that contradict these principles. The principles are authentic.
Otto Rank discusses the issue of freedom beautifully. Basically, Rank states that the degree to which a person is unaware of those forces that influence, and are literally controlled by them. Stated differently, the degree which we are unaware of how our drives, instincts, unconscious, and environment are influencing us, they control us. However, if a person chooses not to be aware of these influences, even if done so passively or unconsciously, a choice has still been made.
Self-awareness, in Rank's perception, is a commitment people make which can enhance their freedom. Yet, most people choose to live a life of being unaware. In the Spiritual Matrix or Collective Unconscious—the place where every physical person’s soul dwells—insight of the self can be frightening to deeply know who we are and the realities of our existence. Many, such as the people in Plato’s Cave of Shadows, would rather let authority tell them of reality, unwilling—or not yet ready to allow themselves the freedom of discovery.
The commitment to self-awareness is not always an easy one, but, the reward of uncovering personal truth and the freedom to think, do, be and act in an ethical/moral manner and take responsibility is pure enlightenment. If people are free, then issues of meaning, relationship, and human limitation take on a very different meaning. Self-awareness is needed to live in accordance with these principles. However, the lack of self-awareness is not an acceptable excuse for a person's behavior.
When one has arrived at self-awareness, the third chakra or will to power, begins to expand and develop, literally changing the way the individual thinks and behaves. The third chakra is located in the area above the waist and below the breastbone. The chakras below the will to power relate to survival and childhood incidents.
The third chakra is where one really begins the path to spiritual growth and development. Abused, the third chakra
might encourage an individual with pseudo power in an immoral or unethical manner, such as feeding off the energy of pain, thereby receiving power over others.
On the other hand, the third chakra is meant for spiritual growth, distinctly the spiritual chakra for assisting others, knowing that everyone is connected and is a fragment of The One. It is only through knowing ourselves that we can be authentic in relationship with others. However, the ironic paradox remains that the only way we can come to know ourselves is through our closest relationships.
Self-awareness is needed to live in accordance with these principles. However, the lack of self-awareness is not an acceptable excuse for a person's behavior. The process of change cannot begin until a person accepts responsibility. This is one of the difficult challenges of growth. In order to grow, a person must accept responsibility for what they have done to contribute to where they are at in life. If they have no responsibility, then they have little ability to change.
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