Many automatically equate being an entrepreneur or an independent creative with freedom and working for the corporate world with being beholden to an endless, soulless rat race. I know that for a long time, I was guilty of this assumption myself. Recently, however, I started a job with a new group at a massive tech company. For the first time in almost five years I have a boss and for the first time in my life I’m working for a corporation.

What has struck me and surprised me about the experience is that I actually feel a far greater sense of freedom than I ever expected to. In part, I believe this is because I stumbled upon an interesting role that is a good fit and that offers me a flexible work schedule. Mainly though, I believe it’s due to the lessons I’ve gained as a founder and freelancer, as well as my obsessive exploration of career paths, happiness, mindfulness and fulfillment.

The combination of these perspectives and experiences unsuspectingly prepared me to understand that freedom is a way of being. This is very much a lesson in progress, but my hunch is that it’s an important one. Here are a few of my learnings to date:

1. Remove the restraints that weigh you down.

While there were many things that I loved about being self-employed, it was not always easy. I learned a lot about how to live in uncertainty and manage fear, but this took significant effort. It also diverted energy away from other areas of my life. Removing this pressure and accepting regular paychecks and benefits was actually one of the most liberating choices I could have made at that particular point in time. I didn’t fully understand this until after I was no longer carrying that weight around.

Finding ways to shed what weighs on you and holds you back, can have a significant impact and enable you to focus on what really matters.

2. Build yourself up from the inside out.

Much of my focus during the past year has been on building a strong internal foundation. This has included experimenting with wellbeing and learning what core habits I need to honor and practice in order to show up fully and effectively. It’s also included developing greater self-awareness around when I rely on external sources vs. internal sources for strength. It’s allowed me to build a greater sense of confidence and has freed me from relying on others to define my worth or potential.

Developing your internal sources of strength vs. relying on external sources that serve as a crutch is both liberating and deeply empowering.

3. Go to where who you are is not only accepted, but expected.

Initially I had little intention of going corporate. Half way though the initial phone interview, however, I knew that I would likely take this job. We spoke each other’s language and I felt understood. As the interview process progressed, it was made clear that not only would showing up as my full self be accepted, but it would be expected. Ultimately the role would require me to be who I am. It would entail doing several of the things I’d spend my time doing anyways, like learning about the world, meeting new people and getting to deeply know their stories, discovering interesting things, collecting inspiration and guiding creative projects.

Who you are fully has unique value and when that is cultivated and understood, your worth becomes expansive.