“Sovereignty” has recently become a buzzword for those seeking a greater degree of freedom, self-expression, and autonomy over the decisions that shape their lives. But the roots of this concept run deep, and to claim sovereignty in any realm of individual life requires deep-seated values and a commitment to self-responsibility. It requires more than simply opting out of state- and institutional-run systems: it demands that you first know who you are, what you believe, and how you plan to govern yourself.
Stepping into individual sovereignty is a journey: a process that unfolds in layers, beginning with introspection and self-examination that sparks curiosity, inquiry, and eventually the adoption of new tools, practices, and approaches. To embark on a quest toward greater sovereignty requires examination of one’s own beliefs, values, and abilities in contrast to external forces and influences that seek to stifle creativity, flatten innovation, and homogenize identity. It is not enough to turn your back on the system: you have to be stalwart and optimistic enough to turn toward something more authentic, autonomous, and true. And that something must be born of your own sovereign-minded values.
The history of the word sovereignty mirrors this journey between the inner and outer worlds over which we seek to lay claim, moving steadily between personal and political contexts over time. Usage of the word has risen and fallen over the course of English history in tandem with its shifting application in both personal and political spheres. But despite its political prominence over the course of Western history, sovereignty has its deepest roots in the realm of the individual, with the idea that we can control the thoughts that direct our life.
Sovereignty has its etymological roots in the Vulgar Latin superānus (“chief, ruler”), with “super” (above, over) combined with the suffix “anus” (indicating agency or belonging). Thus, at its foundation sovereignty denotes someone or something holding a superior position. Over time the term’s meaning has evolved, with the locus of sovereignty shifting from monarchs to states and ultimately back to individuals, reflecting a complex interplay of ideas about power, authority, and individual agency.
The earliest philosophical examinations of sovereignty center upon cognitive powers of the individual. The concept of inner sovereignty emerged with the Stoics, who promoted control over one’s own mind as the highest form of self-mastery. Epictetus (c. 50-135 CE) articulated personal sovereignty as mastery over one’s thoughts and actions. Marcus Aurelius expanded upon this concept, emphasizing power over one’s own mind (rather than external events) and promoting inner virtue and rational self-control as sources of individual autonomy. Stoicism has come to be seen as a form of personal sovereignty: a practical philosophy for maintaining freedom under any circumstance. This approach is central to walking the sovereign path in our current age.
For centuries, Stoic conceptions of individual sovereignty were largely lost on the western tradition, as the term “sovereign” gained traction within the political sphere. Initially, it signified a supreme ruler, bestowed power by divine or natural right and considered to exist above the law of the land. With the rise of the nation state in the 16th century, the concept of sovereignty broadened within the political, gradually expanding back into the realm of the individual with John Locke’s conception of self-ownership in the 17th century. From there, the term continued to vacillate between personal and political applications, with thinkers like Hobbes and Rosseau refining the concept in the context of state power and popular governance. 19th century liberal and libertarian ideals steadily reasserted the importance of individual sovereignty, tying the idea to thought, expression, and action, and influencing the modern concept of human rights. By the 20th century libertarian thinkers had fully embraced the concept, emphasizing individual freedom and autonomy as the foundation of a just society – and marking a significant shift in the term’s meaning back towards the personal sphere.
“Man is condemned to be free because, once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”
– Jean Paul Sartre
In a marked shift back toward Stoic ideas, conceptions of personal sovereignty were refined via the contributions of 20th century Existentialist philosophers like Sartre and de Beauvior. An Existential understanding of sovereignty considers our individualized ability and freedom to define meaning, coupled with the power of our conscious will to claim personal agency. Sartre famously asserted “Man is condemned to be free (…) because, once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” Aspects of Existentialist ideas about personal sovereignty are evident in the many flavors of new-age spiritual self-development that focus on meaning-making, directed self-perception, and manifestation.
The concept of sovereignty continues to push further into the realm of the individual, a reaction to the institutional forces that define the 21st century: big government, big pharma, big tech, and legacy media. In response to the pressure exerted by these external forces, many people are waking up to their own sovereign selfhood and realizing how necessary (and often simple) it is to wrest your own agency from the grip of outdated paradigms and crumbling institutions to embark on a new way forward. We see this in the health freedom movement. We see it in the rise of homesteading and sustainable agriculture. We see it in the increase in homeschooling, and the development of alternative educational models. And we see it in the over-saturated self-help sector, as people of all stripes are grasping for a deeper, truer, more sovereign sense of individual selfhood.
In the 21st century, to claim sovereignty is to claim a vision: for a more authentic sense of selfhood and a healthier, more fulfilling, more autonomous lifestyle.
When we claim individual sovereignty, we claim it like a monarch: with responsibility for the multitudes contained within each of us. The good and the bad. The small choices and the big decisions. The values we adopt. The ways we act on them. And the consequences of holding firmly to them, even when it’s difficult, even in the face of judgment, criticism, and condemnation. And we also claim responsibility for the immeasurable freedom that comes from living a life in resonance with our firmly held values. We are responsible for the tools and practices we adopt, the resources from which we continue to learn, and the new paradigms we work to create in community with likeminded people.
Sovryn Creative is built upon the kind of values that seek to preserve and uphold individual sovereignty: freedom, autonomy, and self-governance. We work closely with each of our clients to ensure their values are aligned and visible in their brand’s online presence, helping them spread their message, educate their customers, and create lasting relationships without resorting to sales hype. We are excited to push the concept of individual sovereignty further into the mainstream by supporting entrepreneurs building better options, creating better offers, and bringing autonomous choice to their customers through authentic communication and connection.
Reach out if you want to explore how to more fully embody your own sovereign values in your online business presence.