What does this saying even mean?

"Give yourself permission"

What does that even mean?

The first time I heard this saying, I thought to myself...

Yeah of course I give myself permission. That’s such a silly saying, I do what I want!

It wasn’t until I realised I was burning myself out, did I truly understand what it meant.

You see, when I was younger I had a lot more energy and thought that being busy, working hard, being productive meant success.

I would push myself to work ridiculous hours and I didn't allow myself to take a day off for months on end.

Self-care was a word that didn’t exist in my world. I thought slowing down meant I was weak.

It all came to a head one day when I felt completely overwhelmed and had a good old breakdown - ugly crying alone in a cupboard.

How did I get to this point? Why was I so miserable?

I decided I had to look after myself - whatever that meant 🤷‍♀️. I didn’t know how but I knew I had to start.

So I took time out for myself, created boundaries, said “no” to a lot of things.

Then came the guilt. 

The guilt for not doing enough, not being productive enough. 

Whenever I would try to switch off and relax, I’d feel as though there are so many other things I needed to be doing.

The guilt was unrelenting. Taking a day off was not pleasurable as all I could think about was, what do I need to do tomorrow?

One day, someone said to me, Sheryl you need to give yourself permission to just chill the f**k out.

I was confused for a moment but then it clicked…

I was the one who put all the pressure on myself.  I was the one that created the guilt, no one else.

It was all me!

Nowadays, I set aside at least one day a week where I give myself permission to do what I want. 

If I want to read, read. If I want to go for a bike ride, I do it. If I want to start a new hobby, I’ll set time aside to do it. If I want to lie there and do nothing, well nothing here I come!

So many times I’ve said “Well, I can’t relax because no one else will do it” - when I dug deeper it was only me making up that excuse.

This weekend, I want you to think about doing something you've never given yourself permission to do. Then...

Give yourself permission 

Stay Peachy,

Sheryl Thai, CEO
League of Extraordinary Women