Permission Slips

As I type this, I’m watching the sun come up over the Atlantic Ocean from the 31st floor in a high-rise condo on the Gulf Shore in Alabama. My family is all still snuggled in their beds.

There’s a slight breeze and the woosh-woosh-woosh of the waves has a calming effect. It’s a little cool this morning (only 43 degrees but it sure beats the single digits at home) but it’s not keeping the early risers away from walking the beach.

Despite a few early efforts of returning phone calls and responding to emails, I realized I can’t work while on vacation. Besides the weak wi-fi signal and poor cell reception, I owe it to my family to be fully engaged while we’re together.

I give myself permission to turn off my work brain.

I give myself permission to simply go with flow… to give up control of where we go and what we do.

I give myself permission to delight in the playfulness of my 16-year-old son and soak in the laughter of my 13-year-old daughter.

I give myself permission to wait patiently for my parents as they slowly make their way off the beach just after sunset.

In January, I started a journey with four amazing women as part of the POWER Collective. They are all at various stages of their lives… a mom with little ones, a mom with teenagers, a single gal, a new grandma. One leads a sales team. One is transitioning in her business. One just launched her business. One is growing her practice.

They are high performing, driven women who needed to give themselves permission somewhere in their lives.

Permission to be vulnerable and show up fully to ‘do the work’.

Permission to focus on herself (for once).

Permission to give up the status that comes with a ‘corporate title’ and understand her worth without a title.

Permission to not be perfect but make imperfect progress.

I’m guessing there’s somewhere you need to give yourself permission today...

Permission to speak up in your afternoon meeting.

Permission to not be the one with all the answers and let your team figure it out.

Permission to ask for what you need (from your partner, from your boss, from your children, from yourself.)

Permission to get a babysitter, leave the kiddos at home and have date night.

Grab a post-it note and write yourself a permission slip.

This permission slip is a reminder of what you intend for the day (or even the moment).  You’re giving yourself authority to feel something, do something, think something, say something.

No judgment. No expectations. No rules.

Just permission.