Embrace Your Freedom: It's 'Give Yourself Permission Day'!

Unlock Your Sense of Agency and Prioritize Self-Care

Today is “Give Yourself Permission Day”!

Last night, I struggled with a post I wanted to make today. No matter how many ways I thought about it and edited it, it wasn’t happening. In a fit of frustration, a thought flashed through my mind. “Give yourself permission not to do this post right now. ”

At that moment, “Give Yourself Permission Day” was born. It’s freeing to give yourself permission to do something or permission not to do something.

When you claim your own permission, you increase your sense of agency. Having a sense of agency is owning responsibility for your choices and results, improving your feeling of freedom.

This week and next are intense weeks for me. I was out of town for a week, and I’m preparing to lead a workshop on Monday. My husband is having surgery on Wednesday, which also requires a lot of preparation. Plus, don’t ask me why. I started The Artist’s Way. There is nothing like intensity to help you prioritize and lean into your choices.

“Give Yourself Permission Day” is about acknowledging what’s best for you at the moment, not choosing what you think you should do or be doing. It’s about noticing and deciding what you want to do and don’t want to do.

Here are some examples:

- I give myself permission to keep my massage appointment when logic says it would be better for me to get things done at work and home.

- I give myself permission to slow down and make some art.

- I give myself permission to treat myself to <whatever is a treat for you.>

- I give myself permission to order take out more than I usually would, knowing that in the long run, it will be fine.

- I give myself permission to accept support from friends and loved ones.

What about things not to do?

- I give myself permission to say no to <whatever you want to say no to.>

- I give myself permission to stop worrying about outcomes I can’t control.

- I give myself permission to not follow every shiny, bright object from people who promise me the moon. I love new ideas and opportunities, but I’m at a point where I have what I need, and it’s time to produce.

The bottom line is that “Give Yourself Permission Day” combines ‘Create your life’ and ‘What do you want to let go of’’ day.

There are many more permissions to do or not do rattling around in my mind. But I’m allowing myself to write you a short email today.

Make Every Day a Permission Day

What do you think about scheduling your own “Give Yourself Permission Day?” Maybe this isn’t for you, but maybe it’s exactly what you need. I’d love to hear either way.

What if every day was “Give Yourself Permission Day”? I could have skipped publishing this week with what I have going on. I gave myself permission this morning to carve out the time to write this email for four reasons.

1. Your comments and engagement inspire me to keep writing.

2. Before I joined Substack, it was too easy to skip a week. When I skip a week, it’s too easy to skip the next and the next, and then it’s gone.

3. Substack sends me an email every week telling me how many weeks in a row I’ve published. That also keeps me going.

4. I work out ideas for myself and my clients when I write about a topic.

Please feel free to reply to this email, post comments below, or find me on Substack or Instagram.

Next week will be a short post as well. If you’d like to write a guest post, I’d love to consider what you want to offer so I can keep the streak going. Topics related to personal and spiritual growth, creativity, and innovative approaches to life interest me and my subscribers. I am giving myself permission to collaborate.

Please forgive any grammar or other mistakes in this email today.

All the best to you this week!

May you be happy

May you be healthy

May you be free.