Permission to start

I’ve spent my entire life trying to “STOP” doing something because that is how I thought, and was told, my life would be better. Or I was being told how to stop doing something. Or I was being asked if there was something I wanted to stop doing.

“STOP” seems to be a very popular word in society.

But all being told to “stop” did was stop me from dreaming. Stopped me from seeing what I am capable of. I stopped all of those things so I could focus on making sure I fit into society, the roles, the job, life that I was “supposed” to have based on what I was being told, learning, and seeing in the world.

I got tired of being told to stop. I got tired of telling myself to stop. And I definitely don’t want to tell other people to stop doing things as the only way they can have the life they want.

What about START? What about permission? What about allowing ourselves to try on new experiences to see who we really are?

After I went to Patagonia and had a life changing trip, I didn’t want to readjust to my life and reality. I realized I didn’t want to STOP thinking about how I felt in Torres del Paine. I didn’t want to stop thinking about how being there felt true to me.

I wanted to START making my reality fit the life I actually wanted. I gave myself permission to dream. I gave myself permission to open up my eyes, my brain, my heart, and truly allow myself to desire things for myself in my life.

I gave myself permission to take the path I was on and redesign it based on my needs, my skills, my wants, my vision. Individualize it and make it my own. I don’t have to walk behind anyone else on their path. I don’t have to worry about erasing their footsteps. I don’t have to worry about leading anyone the wrong way. I can take my path, put it next to those I choose to have in my life, and we can all walk down our paths together. Our paths can even veer off and then meet up again later.

I gave myself permission to start being who I wanted to be.

And I give you permission to start dreaming. I give you permission to start individualizing your own path. All those things that you have always felt you need to stop doing? I give you permission to start looking at them as crucial and important and powerful. I give you permission to start thinking of them as part of you, part of what you are going to create in the future, part of what makes you delightful and wonderful. You don’t need to stop doing anything. You don’t need to resist or restrict those parts of yourself. All of those parts got you started on this path. Nothing has gone wrong here. They are all still there and keep you moving forward.