Permission to Play

Remember when you were a kid, and you needed a guardian to sign off on a permission slip? 😜

If they signed it, you were free to go on the field trip, to explore and experience something exciting with your friends. But if they didn’t, you were stuck, left behind to watch everyone else participate while you stayed on the sidelines. I've been in both positions.

From a young age, we’re taught that permission comes from someone else. It’s a message ingrained so deeply that, even as adults, we find ourselves waiting. Waiting for someone to tell us, “It’s okay. You’re allowed. You deserve this.”

But no one is coming to give us that permission. The hard truth is that it’s up to us to decide. And that decision? It isn’t easy.

For me, it’s a constant battle. I love creating—I’m an artist, and crafting is one of my greatest joys. Yet, I rarely give myself permission to indulge in it. Why? Because there’s always something “more important” to do. A list of responsibilities, tasks, and “shoulds” that feels endless. 😟

It’s hard to choose joy when the world around us tells us to prioritize productivity. It’s hard to sit down with a coloring book when there are dishes to wash, emails to send, or errands to run. And it’s especially hard to believe that doing something “just for fun” has value.

But here’s the thing: that list never ends. The tasks will always repopulate, filling every available moment if we let them. Meanwhile, the kid in us, the one who just wants to feel joy for no other reason than it feels good, gets pushed further and further aside.

I knew this. I felt it. And yet, making the choice wasn’t easy. It felt somehow wasteful, which brought on a sense of grief that I was telling my kid self "your desire to play doesn't have value." 😔

So I did it. I pulled out my coloring books, threw on a Christmas movie, and let myself just be. No goals, no purpose other than to enjoy the moment. And it was delightful. I felt my anxiety literally melt away. 🎄

By giving myself that space to create and play, I unlocked something deeper. I felt self-compassion bloom, a reminder that I deserve kindness, even from myself. I felt self-trust grow, proof that I can honor my own needs. And I felt self-worth strengthen, the realization that my joy is valid and valuable, no matter what else is waiting on my plate.

It’s not easy to make that choice. I still struggle with it. But the benefits are undeniable. When we give ourselves permission to step off the hamster wheel of endless tasks, we reconnect with the parts of ourselves that often get lost. We create space for healing, for growth, and for joy.

If you could give yourself permission to do one small thing this week, what would that be?🥳

The end of the year is a great time to give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and realign. Through my tarot sessions, we can explore where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’d like to go in the coming year.

Click HERE to schedule your session and step into the new year with intention!