Give Yourself Permission

We all have priorities — conflicting things we’ve got to do or feel we “should” be doing. But how we decide what gets priority, what to do “prior” to other things, is not always easy.

It requires judgement. And judgments are usually about being guilty or not guilty.

Will I feel guilty if I don’t do what I’m supposed to do? Lots of our decisions are predicated on avoiding guilt, aren’t they.

So who’s really leading your life — you, or all those “shoulds” that parents, friends, or institutions imprinted on your judgement process?

The answer of course is you.

You are leading your life. You’re the leader.

The best way to silence voices echoing in your head from long ago is to give yourself permission to do what you want.

Give yourself permission . . . and guilt disappears. Because it’s your voice alone you’re listening to.

And your priorities will become remarkably clear.

 

Joe Grant

Trees

Look out your window or step outside for a moment. Find a tree and start counting the leaves.

How many leaves do you think there are?

Leaves on trees are the best and most ubiquitous analog for abundance. They’re there to remind us that even from a tiny seed or acorn, life almost explodes in grand profusion.

You can think of the leaves as representing all the good things in your life. Or as the many solutions available (but perhaps not yet noticed) to solve your problems. Maybe they’re like magical tickets you could choose from to take a ride on new paths and journeys. So many possibilities!

Stare at a tree for even a short while and its very being will signal what can come from the synergy of air, soil, water, and light to make something wildly abundant . . . out of almost nothing.

We and the tree have those vital elements in common.

And the same potential to flourish.

 

Joe Grant