Give Yourself Permission to Live Peacefully

Sometimes we place too many burdens on ourselves and do not give ourselves permission to live peacefully. IDEO, a design and innovation firm in Palo Alto, California, created orange tickets that give the recipient ten minutes of free play. They passed these tickets out on their Caltrain ride to San Francisco and received mixed results. Many people seemed delighted with the free gift while others appeared more skeptical.

We don’t need to receive a ticket to give ourselves permission to seek after peace. Ask yourself, What can I do that would allow me to experience more serenity, simplicity, and harmony is my life?

In her Abundance Blog, Marelisa writes that she will:

1. I give myself permission to rest.
2. I give myself permission to laugh.
3. I give myself permission to play.
4. I give myself permission to make mistakes.
5. I give myself permission to say “no” to demands on my time that are simply draining.
6. I give myself permission to say “yes” to what I want.
7. I give myself permission to fulfill my lifelong dreams.
8. I give myself permission to ask for what I want.
9. I give myself permission to be who I am.
10. I give myself permission to try again.
11. I give myself permission to have fun.
12. I give myself permission to design my own life.
13. I give myself permission to ignore naysayers.
14. I give myself permission to stay focused on what’s important to me.
15. I give myself permission to be whatever body shape I like.
16. I give myself permission to be imperfect.
17. I give myself permission to ask for help.
18. I give myself permission to stop caring what others think of me.
19. I give myself permission to write a lousy first draft.
20. I give myself permission to create.

I would add:

• I give myself permission to forgive.
• I give myself permission to love myself.
• I give myself permission to say “I’m sorry.”
• I give myself permission to accept others as they are.
• I give myself permission to enjoy my blessings.
• I give myself permission to be spontaneous.
• I give myself permission to love others.
• I give myself permission to meditate.
• I give myself permission to celebrate God’s infinite love for me—and for others

What will you give yourself permission to do that promotes peace?


© Carol Brown