I find it fitting for the start of a month to talk about permission. This word and act keep coming up in various ways in my life. It seems like ever since we were tiny humans we needed permission – can I go outside and play, can I go on a field trip, my friend hurt my feelings – is it OK to cry, can I jump off the jungle gym, I made the team and my friend didn’t – can I be happy about it…I think you get the point.
I’ve been looking at permission in an entirely different light lately. Last week, I got permission from my doctor to do more activity. I explained it to someone as a newfound freedom, yet feeling like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. It’s interesting, my body is capable of doing things, but not until I received permission was I ‘able’ to do it. You can lift more weight, OK…I added weight at the gym the next day. You can ride the bike longer…poof, I rode the bike longer. I just found it so interesting that I needed permission that it was OK. I guess medically I do, but it just made me do a deep dive – SHOCKER!
This whole experience teaches me new lessons every day. I’m continually reminded how very powerful our mind is. It believes what we tell it and if our bodies have been through trauma of any kind, our mind and body go into protection mode. We need to override this! For example, after surgery, my first attempt at the stairs scared the crap out of me. I would shuffle up/down – never stepping with my weak foot first. It wasn’t until I literally TOLD myself OUT LOUD…’you can do this’. I’m not kidding. My body physically wouldn’t take the step, it was like my mind needed permission. I did it, hurt like crazy, but I did it…AND it got easier with every step. It was truly an odd experience. I shared this silly epiphany with my physical therapist and he said we truly have to retrain our our brain. More I CAN and not I CAN’T! We truly have the power within us.
So let’s work on giving ourselves all kinds of permission…we are in control of US. Permission to do whatever the heck you want, but first YOU need to allow your mind and body to do what you actually want it to do. It’s not easy, I’m not going to sugar coat it… BUT the payoff of taking control of your mind of giving yourself permission to live the life you truly want to live, is so incredibly rewarding and beautiful! Go take that bubble bath, plan that trip, don’t hang out with that person that drains your energy battery…ask for a helping hand.
Permission to love the heck out of yourself this month. Start NOW, a fresh new month with full permission to do YOU – and don’t you dare apologize for it. Remember, this takes work…but you are worth it. Permission to go buy yourself a flower bouquet to remind yourself to stay present and enjoy the growth and beauty of a flower. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference. Cheers!
