#368 - FREEDOM TO CHOOSE: My 'Why' Behind Wanting Financial Independence

Welcome to a deeply personal episode.

I’m opening up about something that has profoundly shaped my life – freedom.

Not just the idea of it, but the raw, powerful freedom to choose. The kind of freedom that comes from doing the inner work, from dreaming boldly, and from aligning your daily life with your truest values and passions.

I take you right back to the moment that sparked it all – a 3am conversation with Paul when I was just 22, lost and unsure, with nothing but a pen and a blank piece of paper.

That night, I wrote down my dreams for the first time, and something inside me shifted. I didn’t have the answers, but I had a vision. And I realised: that’s where freedom begins.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

🌟 The power of giving yourself permission to dream
🌟 How I rebuilt my life after losing my business
🌟 Simple, everyday practices that anchor me in freedom

Whether you’re navigating change, rebuilding after a loss, or simply seeking more joy and meaning in your daily life, I created this episode with you in mind. I want you to walk away feeling inspired, supported, and most importantly — free to design your own dream life.

💛 So grab your journal, make yourself a cuppa, and hit play. This might just be the episode that helps you choose differently — for you.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful weekend 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

SHOW NOTES:

• Follow me on Insta and TikTok
• Join my Platinum Coaching Program (NEW Member Trial offer - save $200!) - where in July our focus is on Creating a Life of Freedom: Reconnecting with what freedom means to you - taking small, empowering steps to create it.
Learn more here.
• Join my virtual book club GROW for July where we meet weekly on Zoom to discuss and squeeze the learnings from great books. This Jully we're reading Make Money Easy: Create Financial Freedom and Live a Richer Life, by Lewis Howes. Align your financial goals with your Meaningful Mission to achieve lasting abundance and prosperity, from the host of The School of Greatness. NEW Member trial offer - just $9! Learn more here

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPT:

Hi there, and welcome back to Your Dream Life podcast. I'm Kristina Karlsson, and here we explore the tools, stories, and small shifts that can help you create a life you truly love—whatever that looks like for you.

Today’s episode is a personal one. It's called Freedom to Choose, because the word “freedom” has shaped everything for me.

Let me take you back to a night I’ll never forget—a moment that completely changed my life. I was 22, living in Melbourne, far from home in Sweden. I had no real plan, no money, and no idea what I was going to do with my life.

One night, lying awake at 3am, I turned to my partner Paul and asked him, for what felt like the fifth time, “What am I going to do with my life?” He said, “Let’s write down what’s important to you.” That moment, with a pen in my hand and a piece of paper, changed everything. I gave myself permission to dream.

On that list, I wrote things like driving to work every day—especially Mondays—feeling excited. That wasn’t the case at the time. I also wrote that I wanted to start my own business, even though I had no idea what it would be or how to do it.

Another dream was to stay connected to Sweden. I didn’t want to choose between Australia and Sweden—I wanted both to be part of my dream life. I wanted to work with Swedish design, which is something I’m passionate about. And I wrote down that I wanted to make $500 a week.

It was a simple, raw list—but it was mine. That’s so important. When we dream, it’s easy to be influenced by others—our parents, partners, or even a career path we’ve invested years into. But your dreams have to be your own. Even if they’re inconvenient or unclear—write them down anyway.

For the first time in a long time, after writing my dreams down, I felt free. Not because I had the answers—I didn’t. But I had a vision, a choice, and a direction. And that’s what I want for you.

My big dream now is to inspire 101 million people to write down three dreams and go chase them. Because dreaming changed my life. What I’ve created since then is beyond anything I could’ve imagined.

This sense of freedom—the freedom to do what I want, when I want, with who I want—is so exciting. And it gives me purpose.

So let’s talk about what freedom really is. It’s not just about having more time or money. For me, it’s about alignment—being aligned with what I love, my values, my dreams, and my purpose.

Freedom means saying yes to what lights me up—and saying no to what drains me. That’s why it’s so important to know your values. I’ve gotten really good at saying no to things that don’t feel right.

It also means having the courage to choose what’s right for me, not to please others. It means living by my values—not someone else’s checklist.

Freedom is doing what I love every day. It means work doesn’t feel like work. I work when I want, where I want, and with people I love. I get to design life on my terms—not society’s or anyone else’s.

I love that I can combine my passions—personal growth, health, wellbeing, business, travel, and connecting with inspiring people. I get to work from different countries, with a beautiful community I adore. That’s priceless.

But let’s be honest—freedom doesn’t mean easy. Sometimes, having the freedom to choose means making hard decisions.

When I lost Kikki.K—the business I poured my heart into for over 20 years—I was heartbroken. For a while, I felt like I had no choices. But I realized, I still had me. My values, my dreams, my experience. That’s why I always encourage you to invest in yourself. You can lose a job, a business, or a relationship—but you always have you.

That’s when I chose to begin again. That’s where Dream Life, as it is now, was born.

So if freedom feels far away right now, I want to gently say this: sometimes, it’s in the breakdown that we find our breakthrough.

Today, my freedom doesn’t look flashy. It’s morning rituals—watching the sunrise, walking in nature, journaling, having coffee in silence. I work with inspiring women in the Dream Life Coaching program, sharing what I’ve learned through years of personal growth and business.

I read books and discuss them in our Dream Life Book Club. I share what I learn with our community. I speak on stages around the world. I work hard when I want to, and I rest when I need to. That’s freedom to me—flexibility.

I get to inspire my kids to be entrepreneurs. My son Axel sells his AXA Golf Wear at the Manly Market each weekend, learning about business firsthand. It’s so inspiring to witness.

I run retreats that show others what freedom looks like when you reconnect with yourself. I create journals I personally want to use—and then share them with others.

I could go on. But it’s often the little things—like that silent coffee after a walk—that matter most. Those are things I choose.

Remember: big dreams start with small daily practices.

So here’s a question for you, from my heart:
🌟 What does freedom look like for you right now?
🌟 Where are you choosing alignment?
🌟 Where are you settling?
🌟 What would open up if you believed you had permission to choose differently?

Take a moment. Grab your journal. Write the answers. And remember—you don’t have to do it all today. One small choice can change your direction.

Your dream life is yours to design. You have the power to choose how you spend your time, who you surround yourself with, and what rhythms nourish you.

Freedom isn’t something we find. It’s something we create—one brave choice at a time. And it doesn’t happen overnight.

Enjoy the process. Progress, not perfection, is the key. Perfection doesn’t exist. We can always improve—but progress is what gets us there.

If this episode stirred something in you, I have something special to share. In July, inside the Dream Life Coaching program, our theme is Freedom. Not the kind you wait for—the kind you create.

We’ll do the work together, in community, with structure and loving support. You’ll get clear on what freedom means for you, release what’s holding you back, and take inspired action. Lloyd Ross will be joining us for a Financial Freedom workshop too!

So if something in you is whispering “now’s the time,” follow the nudge. There’s no pressure—just an open invitation.

Visit yourdreamlifestartshere.com to learn more. And if you have questions, reach out. I’d love to hear from you.

This July could be your turning point. Thank you so much for being here today.

As always, I’m cheering you on. Let’s choose freedom. Let’s choose our dream lives—and let’s do it together.

And don’t forget—share in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group:
🌟 What’s one choice you’re making this week for your dream life?

If someone you know needs this message, please share it. Let’s build a ripple of freedom and intention together.

Until next time—keep dreaming, keep choosing, and keep going. Choose a life of freedom—whatever that means to you. I’ll be back Monday with your Monday Morning Motivation.

 

Join me on this journey of self-discovery and financial exploration. In this podcast, I share my personal story of why financial independence is more than just a number - it's about freedom, choices, and living life on your own terms. Listen now and start your own journey to financial freedom.