A Permission Slip
To be unapologetically you.

Sometimes the only thing standing in the way of living a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life is your permission!

For many, needing permission or approval stems from early on in life or from years of experiences with the added self implication or requirement to gain the approval or permission from an authority figure, parent, teacher, boss, and/or partner. How many times have you not done, bought, rested (when your body is crying out for it because you need a break, you were unwell or a new mother) or how many times have you not said something because you’re afraid of what someone might say?

So today I say we give ourselves permission. 
We do not need the permission or approval of others to be who we truly are, to live how we desire to live, to create what we want to create. All we need is a whole lot of love & our own permission.

Permission to be me (you)
In all our glorious, wacky, crazy, magnificent, beautiful, uniqueness.
Permission;
To say how we feel with love in our hearts,
To rest when our bodies are crying out for it,
To buy that thing we’ve had our eye on just because it’s beautiful,
To do that thing we’ve always wanted to do,
To dream our incredible dreams & to follow them through,

No longer feeling guilting worrying about what others may say,
No longer desperately seeking or needing the permission or approval of others,

We are here on this earth for a purpose, to live, give, love, learn & contribute.
To discover who we are & to embrace, accept, forgive & love ourselves completely. We cannot do what we’re meant to do if we are forever seeking permission & approval from others.

Here’s a few ideas on where we could start to give ourselves permission.
1. Look at where you say “I have to” and find ways to change it to “I want to”. Shifting your thoughts from one of obligation & expectation to a choice, a loving act & removing the “have to’s” that you really don’t have to!
2. Take notice of what your body is telling you. Sometimes we are so focused on doing, being what everyone else needs us to be. We often feel we must, it’s our job or in line with the above we are obliged or expected to...(so we think). Give yourself permission to take regular time out, to rest & to practise self-care. 
3. Learn to trust yourself, your intuition, your decisions. Learning to tune into those quiet loving messages that we often don’t hear because of all the noise, mind chatter, doubts & exhaustion. The more you practise it, the more you’ll hear it to then be able to act upon it. Meditation is a great place to start, to quiet your mind & listen. It takes practise but like everything else you’ve learned & become skilled at, this is just another skill you can learn & strengthen the more you do it. 
4. See you, I mean really see you. Look into the mirror everyday & say “I love You” give yourself permission to really see yourself, love, embrace, accept & forgive yourself. Again this takes practise so don’t give up if the first few times you feel silly or think what a load of crap as you begin to pick at every fault. You are able to love others so well, so unconditionally, you need to feel that love for yourself too. Ridding yourself of all the negative comments, comparisons, self loathing you’ve collected over the years, taken onboard & now believe to be true.
5. Give yourself permission to feel your feelings, resentment, anger, fear, then give yourself permission to let it go.
6. Give yourself permission to ask for help, guidance, support. We know the old story of how men don’t like to ask for directions? Why I’ll never know besides the obvious pride & worrying what others may think. Instead of getting lost or taking forever to get somewhere or achieve something reach out. When you reach out to the right people (the ones who love, encourage & support you) there will be no judgement there, only love, help & healing.
7. Give yourself permission to live a big life. Marianne Williamson beautifully expresses this;

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

When you give yourself permission, free from the need of approval or permission from others you empower yourself. You build self confidence, make better decisions for your highest good & the highest good of others & start to live authentically.

What could give yourself permission for today?
I’d love you to share in the comments below.

Karen Offord › Blog 2018 › Permission Slip to be unapologetically Me

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