Write your permission slip...
What would that look like for you?
- Permission to say Yes?
- To say No?
- To choose?
- To try something risky or new?
- Permission to be imperfect?
- To fail?
- To speed up or slow down?
- To speak up or let go?
- To feel how you are actually feeling?
- Permission to prioritize your life differently?
Why is it hard to do?
- We are conditioned from childhood to ask for permission - first from parents and teachers - and when we grow up - from authority figures & bosses.
- We have many "shoulds" & "shouldn'ts" rolling around in our heads that influence how we think people will see us and how we judge ourselves
- We think that putting everyone and everything else first is the responsible thing to do
- We're waiting for the "right time"
- We may not believe we have ownership over our own life
Bottom line?
We think someone other than ourselves is supposed to give us the green light.
Some of the rules are necessary.
Some of our shoulds and shouldn'ts are protective and align with our values. Putting other priorities first isn't always a bad thing. Time constraints are real.
And yet,
Couldn't there still be room to grant yourself the opportunity to be your own gatekeeper and use your own keys?
What if the only one you really need a permission slip from is yourself? Giving yourself permission gives you ownership over your life and your experiences. That might be scary, but who would you rather have in charge?
Experiment
- Grant yourself the permission you give others
- Think about applying that responsibility strength to yourself
- Start Small
- Trust yourself to make a good choice
- Let go of what you think will happen and give yourself the chance to see what will happen
- Practice Daily
WARNING: The freedom you experience may become addictive
