50 Things to Give Yourself Permission For

by Marelisa

The only person you need permission from is you.

When we’re kids we have to ask permission for everything:

We have to ask our parents for permission to ride our bikes outside.
We have to ask for permission to watch TV.
We have to ask for permission to have a snack.
We have to raise our hands in class and ask for permission to speak.
We even have to ask the teacher for permission to go to the bathroom.

Then we grow up, but we continue to think that we have to ask others for permission. Well, guess what! You’re an adult now. You no longer need anyone else’s permission. The only person you need permission from is yourself. So stop withholding permission from yourself. Instead, give it freely!

What do you need permission for? Here are 50 things you may want to give yourself permission for:

1. I give myself permission to take breaks.

2. I give myself permission to be lazy on Sundays: to sleep in and wear pajamas all day.

3. I give myself permission to take good care of myself.

4. I give myself permission to laugh.

5. I give myself permission to play.

6. I give myself permission to make mistakes.

7. I give myself permission to say “no” to demands on my time that are simply draining.

8. I give myself permission to remove toxic people from my life.

9. I give myself permission to say “yes” to what I want.

10. I give myself permission to go on adventures.

11. I give myself permission to step out of my comfort zone.

12. I give myself permission to fulfill my lifelong dreams.

13. I give myself permission to ask for what I want.

14. I give myself permission to be who I am.

15. I give myself permission to try again.

16. I give myself permission to have fun.

17. I give myself permission to give myself what I need.

18. I give myself permission to design my own life.

19. I give myself permission to ignore naysayers.

20. I give myself permission to listen to my gut when it tries to tell me that something isn’t right.

21. I give myself permission to stay focused on what’s important to me.

22. I give myself permission to let go of the expectations of others.

23. I give myself permission to have my own agenda.

24. I give myself permission to be whatever body shape I like.

25. I give myself permission to be imperfect.

26. I give myself permission to ask for help.

27. I give myself permission to stop caring what others think of me.

28. I give myself permission to write a lousy first draft.

29. I give myself permission to move on.

30. I give myself permission to pivot – if I don’t like the direction I’m moving in, I can shift direction.

31. I give myself permission to start over.

32. I give myself permission to create—paint, play an instrument, compose songs, knit, and so on.

33. I give myself permission to start a business.

34. I give myself permission to make more money.

35. I give myself permission to validate myself.

36. I give myself permission to be a beginner, and be comfortable with not knowing, when I’m learning something new.

37. I give myself permission to grow.

38. I give myself to be happy.

39. I give myself permission to smile a lot.

40. I give myself permission to succeed.

41. I give myself permission to eat anything I want, in moderation.

42. I give myself permission to start now, even if I don’t have all of my ducks in a row.

43. I give myself permission to act boldly.

44. I give myself permission to forgive myself for the times I haven’t acted in the best way I could have, for the times I’ve let opportunities slip by, and for the times I haven’t stood up for myself.

45. I give myself permission to release the past.

46. I give myself permission to be OK with where I am now.

47. I give myself permission to be a hero on a journey.

48. I give myself permission to shine and stand out.

49. I give myself permission to step into greatness.

50. I give myself permission to conquer the world.

Conclusion

The next time you feel like you have to ask someone else for permission for something that you need, look in the mirror and ask yourself. Then tell yourself: Permission granted! Give yourself permission to live your best life.