Permission Is Empowerment
The chief goal of the Life, Liberty, And Pursuit Of Happiness Project is to empower everyone to build their own unique best life, and to do so in a way that is sustainable in the long run. In order to know what we want our best life to look like, we need to experiment, to plan, and most importantly, we need to love ourselves. In order to do these things, we need to give ourselves permission. We have the natural, human right to do these things. The question is whether we will allow ourselves to do them. Giving ourselves permission is in important form of self love, and a powerful part of empowering ourselves. Permission is empowerment.
It is part of human nature to hold ourselves back. We often restrain ourselves because of fear. We fear judgement, mistakes, and unknown results. When we hold ourselves back, however, we often disempower ourselves unless not holding yourself back will harm others. If doing something will harm others, it isn’t going to empower you. True empowerment does not come at other’s expense.
Permission Is Empowerment To Try And To Make Changes
If you want to do something to enrich your life and bring it closer to what your ideal, best life looks like, then do it. Sometimes it’s difficult. Others don’t always understand. People may question or judge your choice. That’s okay. You don’t need their permission. You only need your own permission.
Make the choice to give yourself permission. Make the choice to love yourself and allow yourself to be happy. Whether that means quitting a job, ending a relationship, making a purchase, seeing an old friend, starting a new hobby, or whatever. You know what you think will make you happy. Experiment. See if you’re right. If not, you at least had a new experience and know yourself better. If you are right, your life is enriched and you are now more empowered, complete, and happy than you were. Give yourself permission to make choices and try new things.
Actively Empower Yourself Through Permission
Take a moment and ponder.
What do you need to give yourself permission to do or try?
How will (or might) giving yourself permission to do that empower you and make you happier?
If giving yourself permission to do or try things is something you struggle with try writing yourself a little permission slip. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. You can just write on a sticky note or a scrap of paper. Write the reminder “I have permission to…” then finish with what you are giving yourself permission to do. You can stick your permission slip on your mirror or tape it to your computer monitor. If you need a more constant reminder or move around a lot you can put it in your pocket and carry it with you. You could even try folding it up lengthwise several times then taping it around your finger like a reminder ring. Whatever works for you. The important thing is you remember you have permission, and that you know and feel you have empowered yourself with this gift of permission.
Tori Amos said “Give yourself permission to be all that you are.” This could, and maybe should, be extended to say “Give yourself permission to be all that you are, and all that you can be.” Each of us is amazing. Our potential is beyond measure. In order to reach that potential though, to love ourselves as much as we can, and to live our best lives we must empower ourselves through permission. We are the most important person on our path to becoming empowered. Permission is empowerment.
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
If you would like to support the Life, Liberty, And Pursuit Of Happiness Project, please consider contributing to LLPHP via GoFundMe