Whose permission are you still waiting for?
Most of us spend years waiting for someone else to give us permission—a teacher, a parent, a partner, a leader, a friend. Someone to tell us
“It’s okay to slow down.”
“You don’t have to carry all of this alone.”
“You can say no.”
“You’re allowed to want something more.”
But here’s the truth most people never say out loud:
that permission has always belonged to you.
And yet, even as adults, a part of us still waits—often without realizing it.
It’s the younger version of you…
- the child who learned to seek approval,
- the teenager who learned not to disappoint,
- the version of you who learned silence kept the peace.
That younger self still wants to make sure you’re “allowed” before you move forward.
Could this be true for you?
Here's a gentle reminder:
You have permission to rest.
You have permission to say no.
You have permission to be who you are.
–Cheryl Strayed
Now consider this shift:
• you’re not that child anymore.
• You get to author your own life now.
Letting go of needing permission from the past begins with a simple, honest question:
What do I want to allow myself to do, feel, or choose today—without waiting for someone else to validate it?
Often, it's something small and simple:
I’m allowed to take my time.
I’m allowed to change my mind.
I’m allowed to choose what supports my peace.
I’m allowed to grow at my own pace.
So here’s the real question:
Where do you need to give yourself permission today?
To pause?
To begin?
To let go?
To ask for help?
To trust your own wisdom again?
Whatever rises to the surface—pay attention.
You don’t need anyone else’s approval to move in the direction that feels right for you.
You are allowed to build a life that feels like home.
Let's keep going!

Shelley Steele, MEd, ICF Certified Coach (ACC)
Executive & Life Coach | Curriculum Development Specialist
Founder, Steele Academy
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