asked me, “What do you do?” We hear this question a lot in networking and other business events. I’ve asked the question a few times over the years, so I get it. But this time, before rattling off my pre-rehearsed “elevator” intro, I asked myself, “What do I do… for work and in life?”
After a nanosecond of contemplation, I answered, “Anything I want.”
Yes, I was being sassy, but it occurred to me that as women, far too often, we don’t do what we want. Why?
Because we wait for the means or finances, we wait for time to be on our side, and worse, we wait for permission.
Uhm… Yuck.
We wait to wear the dress.
We wait to eat the cake.
We wait to leave a situation we know isn’t right.
We wait to start projects.
We want to wear the dress and eat the cake but don’t because “society” says we must be a certain size or weight.
We want to leave the job or the loveless relationship but don’t because we fear what others will think.
We desperately want to pursue a passion project but don’t because we wait until we can find the “extra” time… like there’s such a thing as “extra” time [insert eye-roll emoji].
What would happen if you told yourself to “Stop the madness?”
What if it really was that simple?
What if we could just flip the switch?
What if that’s the magic pill, the secret sauce to breaking the cycle of waiting for permission to live your life on your terms?
I’ve had years of feeling less than badass since my breast explant surgery. Breast Implant Illness caused outa whack hormones that diminished my fierceness, causing me to look to others for validation because I couldn’t muster the fortitude to stand up for myself.
I felt reduced to unrelenting insecurity and self-doubt.
I sought acceptance (aka permission) from my family, well-meaning friends, or personal development books, which felt like holding my breath — like my life was on hold.
WTF??
I came to realize that I don’t need outside validation or permission to do whatever the heck I want. And neither do you.
When you rewrite your inner narrative, every fiber and molecule of your body aligns with what your brain believes. What you tell yourself is what your mind and body will follow.
If you believe that you have the power to do whatever the hell you want, then by golly, that is what your heart will believe, too. The power is yours.
Stop waiting for permission to be brave and #DoYou, boo.
No matter what self-help, best friend, motivational speaker, or therapist tells you, the choice is yours.
For the gurls in the back… You don’t need permission to be your badass self.
You CAN eat the cake.
You CAN wear the dress.
You CAN leave the circumstance that isn’t serving you emotionally and spiritually.
You CAN create a life that aligns with your heart’s calling.
You CAN own your truth. Will you?
