per•mis•sion n. : the right or ability to do something that is given by someone who has the power to decide if it will be allowed or permitted.

I have been thinking a lot about permission lately. Mainly how often we deny ourselves permission. Permission to do things that make us happy, permission to not do things, permission to make mistakes, permission to not be perfect and let go. A big way we deny ourselves permission is that dreaded word “should.” So often we are plagued with thoughts of “I should do this, think this, act this way etcetera.” That we never allow ourselves to ask, “What DO I want?” Much less even giving ourselves permission to really follow through with what we actually want.

Why and what would happen if we did? If we gave ourselves permission to be what we want, do what we want and find out whom we really are with out societal “shoulds.” Might we all be a bunch happier and more grounded? When did we stop giving ourselves permission, and how can we start again?

So since this is my inaugural blog post, I am giving myself permission, to make mistakes, to not write the perfect blog post, and to not worry about what people will think. There I have said it and done it, whew! So liberating, now I just have to keep doing it, grin! I liked the above definition of permission because it speaks of permission being granted by “someone who has the power to decide.” We each have the power to decide for ourselves! So here we go…

Please note: This permission giving is not about “Tiffany said I could give myself permission and I don’t want to go to work so I’m not going…ever again!” Be reasonable folks, if you find that you don’t want to go to work, give yourself permission to investigate why, and maybe take a personal day here and there.

Definition courtesy of merriam-webster.com.