The Precious Gem of Patience

While the journey of growing into a dream is filled with countless unique steps, there also seems to be a universal theme that deserves our undivided attention. It is striking in its power to either propel us forward or shut us down. And I see and experience it all the time within myself and with my clients.

I am talking about permission. The topic keeps popping up. Not exactly sure what I mean? Let's take a peek at some examples.

Along the path to creating your dreams, are you giving yourself permission to…

1. Speak your truth
2. Honor and follow your intuition
3. Think big and bold
4. Say no..or say yes!
5. Ask for help
6. Believe in possibilities, 100%, no matter what
7. "Disappoint" others who have a different vision for you
8. Be successful
9. Fail
10. Invest in yourself, financially and otherwise
11. Thrive..even when those in your personal circle seem to be stuck in struggle or survival mode
12. Shine your light
13. Take risks in service of growth and deeper aliveness
14. Hold your dream as a priority each and every day

And I could go on and on. Are you getting the picture? Can you see how vital it is to become a pro at giving yourself permission?

If you are noticing a shortage of "yes" responses to the above, know that you are not alone. Many of us have a long history of either not granting ourselves permission or experiencing significant struggle and angst in the process. As I sit with the question of why this is so, plenty of answers come to mind.

For now, I want to shine light on several that are famous for fooling us into thinking we are wrong when we try to go deeper with granting ourselves permission. They include fear of being judged, ridiculed or misunderstood; feeling selfish, guilty or self-indulgent; lack of trust in ourselves and the journey; scarcity thinking; being overly focused on others; attachment to our comfort zones; buying into the idea that living our dreams is a luxury; and convincing ourselves that it is irresponsible to act if we don't have all the details figured out.

Any of those ringing true for you? Or maybe all of them! Again, you are not alone. But here is the really, really important point I want you to hear.

It doesn't have to be this way. Just because this has been your experience in the past does not mean that this is the way it is supposed to be, or must be.

Are you REALLY hearing this?

You can immediately choose to step into a whole new way of being. You can begin to honor the essential role that permission plays in building a strong foundation for your dreams. You can fully acknowledge that without it, you will not get very far with realizing your big visions. You can commit to telling the truth.

And what is the TRUTH?

To deny yourself a life rooted in authenticity and passion does not serve anyone. Burying your dreams does not serve anyone. In fact, it is actually quite harmful. Just think about the impact of making that choice..emotionally, physically and spiritually. What do you see? And then recognize the ripple effect that flows as a result of this pain. I want you to see that the real risk in your life is being ruled by fear, playing small and refusing to claim your natural state of wellbeing.

Now I would like you to begin visualizing the energy that you create and radiate when you are living with passion and purpose, fully honoring your dreams. Do you see and feel the difference? This is about truly understanding that as you give yourself permission to be who you really are and to live the life you are meant to enjoy, you give others permission too. It is a beautiful circle of affirmation and inspiration.

Furthermore, when you are in alignment with your truth and dreams, you are tapping into your full resourcefulness, creativity and aliveness. You are accessing your natural gifts and talents and embracing your highest self, thereby setting the stage to be of extraordinary service to the world. You are overflowing with joy and deeply in touch with your capacity to make a monumental difference. How divine and delicious!

In closing, I would like to invite you to savor the wisdom of Wallace Wattles, "The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself."