Permission
When my husband and I moved into our first house, I realized I wasn't happy with the flow. The dining room was in the middle of everything and it just seemed to be in the way. What I really wanted to do was move the dining room table out of the way and use the room more like a hallway, but I wasn’t sure I should do that. I didn’t know if that was “ok”. I brought in a decorator and she told me it was fine. We even moved the dining room table over together. Ahhh so I wasn’t crazy to want this. I paid her a lot of money just to validate my own suspicion, but it was worth it because my house felt better to me after that.
A lot of what I do in my job is give people permission to follow their gut. People “have a feeling” about something, but it seems too easy, too hard, too strange, or too counterculture to go with. What they need is someone who is objective to say, “Actually that makes a lot of sense. Let’s figure out how to go forward with this in a doable way”
The word permission sounds soft, but it can allow people to do really hard things. Permission to leave your job, means now you can find a job that fits you better. Permission to speak your truth means you can have that hard conversation with your friend, your spouse, or your boss. Permission to put yourself first can allow you to make time for rest, for joy, for growth. Seeking permission from someone else for these things may seem silly, but it is reality. Sometimes we just need someone to tell us what we want is ok..
Do you need permission to do something in your life right now? Can you give it to yourself? Maybe you need to find a group that supports your choice. Or hang out with friends living the values you hope to embody. Maybe you need to follow social media accounts that speak to these ideas you have. Or maybe you need a coach or a therapist. Permission to move forward is essential, whether it is external or internal. Do what you need to find that in your life. It can be as small as moving the dining room table out of the way or as big as changing careers. Whatever it is, you deserve to give it a try.
