Permission to Invest in Yourself: How to Free Your Guilt and Live Your Amazing Life
“I’d like to go to the healing seminar in Atlanta next month.”
“Do you need to do to another course?”
“I have to take at least two courses a year for my license.”
“Yeah, but haven’t you already spent money on enough courses this year?”
Sigh.
“This is a topic I’m very passionate about and I’d like to take it while it’s here close by, instead of having to get on a plane for it.”
Brave healers, hear me. You have permission to invest in yourself.
I used to think I had to ask permission for every dollar I spent on myself, even when it was for professional development. Even when it counted toward continuing education for my license. And even when my business budget allowed for it.
After I asked for a divorce, I began investing in myself on another level. And I don’t regret one of those purchases.
I took courses and went to retreats that wouldn’t count toward my CEUs, but that catapulted me forward in terms of my life, business, and income. I hired coaches I never would’ve asked permission to hire when I was married because of the flack I knew I’d get. And I started to invest in time for myself — plain ol’ relaxation and rejuvenation days.
If I’d stuck with only the courses offered that provided CEUs, or only education and no R&R, I would’ve missed out on truly transformational, life-changing moments that helped me understand who I am and what I’m born to do, moments that made me who I am today.
Fuck asking for permission. You’re worth it. You’re worth every single cent and every single moment given back to your amazing self. This is your one, precious life. It’s up to you.
Now, please don’t call me up later after having busted your bank account on something, wallowing in regret. But I think you know what I mean here. You know who you are. You’re still asking for permission to live your life, aren’t you?
Is it time to ask for forgiveness instead of permission?
My ex and I went through cyclical arguments each time, and then the worst part. . . figuring out who’d take care of the kids while I was away. Because that was all up to me, no matter what.
Just because you’re also a mother, doesn’t mean you get subpar treatment or consideration. It doesn’t mean you have to take responsibility for the entire load or weight of the monumental time management tasks that must occur for you to be away for a few days. If anything, being a mother in addition to being a business owner means you need more time, money, and resources to take care of yourself.
I love having the time, money, energy, and resources to generously take care of myself and everyone I love and serve. The way I got to that was not by asking other people for permission to invest in myself. The way I got to that is by taking my power back and ensuring I was a priority, that my healing, wellbeing, and energy came first.
How the heck can we justify asking for permission for our own self-care, betterment, and personal development? I almost want to laugh at how that went down in my 20s and 30s. Except it makes me cry now. I’m sad for her, for the loss of her voice, and the fear she walked around with that gripped her heart so.
“Some women have a hard time giving themselves permission to invest in themselves.”
My new friend in a coaching group said that today, and it inspired this blog. I agree, they do. I did. But no more.
The power you’re giving away by thinking you have to ask permission to invest in yourself is limiting your ability to truly thrive and succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Stop giving that away. Start believing in yourself. Begin by understanding that all the goodness starts with you.
Love her first.
Laura Di Franco, CEO of Brave Healer Productions, is an award-winning publisher and specializes in publishing and business strategy for holistic health and wellness professionals. She has 30-years of expertise in holistic physical therapy, 14 years of training in the martial arts, and her company has published over 50 Amazon bestselling books. She’s a spoken-word poet, lover of dark chocolate, and has a contagious passion for helping you share brave words that build your business. BraveHealer.com
Join us in Sedona for the first ever Brave Healer Writers Retreat where Kyle Cease will be sharing his Evolving Out Loud workshop. Find that HERE.
