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Permission



For people who have lived under the thumb of an abusive or overbearing person, it is difficult to feel free to be who you are. I am in a long, slow process to lay down the burden of expectations that others have put on me, or that I put on myself as a result of coping with abuse. It feels like a revelation to be "allowed" to do something that was previously forbidden. I am being more intentional about giving myself permission to be who I am, feel what I feel, and say what I want to say. Here's a list of a few things I give myself permission for today:

1. You have permission to say no.
2. You have permission to say HELL NO. 
3. You have permission to feel all your feelings, especially the unpleasant ones.
4. You have permission to feel the pleasant ones, too.
5. You have permission to rest.
6. You have permission to play.
7. You have permission to turn off your brain and binge watch TV.
8. You have permission to kick some metaphorical ass.
9. You have permission to kick some actual ass.
10. You have permission to swear.
11. You have permission to not feel the need to explain yourself.
12. You have permission to stand up for yourself.
13. You have permission to cut through the small talk.
14. You have permission to call out the bullshit.
15. You have permission to be "difficult."
16. You have permission to be "moody."
17. You have permission to be pissed off about people who don't understand.
18. You have permission to walk away.
19. You have permission to eat all the ice cream.
20. You have permission to love yourself.

What's on your list?

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