Permission Granted

Last week I had a conversation with a woman who has?a toddler, a newborn, a supportive spouse,?and?a busy career. She continues to find herself at the bottom of her list and is ready to make a change because she is sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Specifically, she wants?to get herself back in shape post-baby and is?looking for motivation.

See, I believe that any new habit we are trying to build for ourselves, whether it be weight loss, starting a business, finding love, writing a book, or setting the boundaries we need to do our actual work and live our actual lives, is really about?permission.?

The permission to?prioritize?ourselves and not feel guilty about it.

This is what I said to her:

You can be an incredible mom?and?still get in the best shape of your life.

You can be a great mom?and?spend money on a trainer.

You can be a great mom?and?make time for yourself.

Having two kids is a fantastic season to be in, and that season will take lots of energy; I know that working out will give you the energy you need to run around?with those kiddos. So?yes, you're doing it for you,?and?you're also doing it for them!

Permission granted!

This is a significant YES//AND moment because we think we must choose. We?don't.

• You can be an incredible Mom?and?still want time for yourself.
• You can be a CEO?and?take long vacations where you don't check your email.
• You can be a great best friend?and?set boundaries.
• You can be a team player?and?say no without guilt.
• You can be a loving wife?and?desire alone time.

You can be ...

Sweet ?????? Savage

Scared ?????? Brave

Confident ?????? Nervous

Ready ?????? Apprehensive

Excited ?????? Anxious

Strong ?????? Soft

So, returning to our busy Mom who wants to get back in shape. Yes, she can get in the best shape of her life while being a good Mom.

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It will require commitment, discipline, support from her spouse, and mad self-prioritization, yet none will even be available to her if she doesn't first permit herself?to get what she wants in the first place.

See, we love to make excuses for why we can't do things.

We love to look at other people and say, "oh, easy for her to say, she doesn't have kids," or "she has this, or she has that," or "I could never," or "I don't have the time, support, money, etc."?

We love to find reasons why our excuses, "i.e., lies," are valid.

Assignment

The cold hard truth is this: Excuses are always fear wrapped up in the skin of a lie.

1. What is something you are not doing that you know you need to? Then, get it down on paper.
2. Now, write a list of all the excuses you are making, but title it “The Lies I’m Telling Myself." Don’t hold back.
3. Unpack those lies by asking, “What am I afraid of here.”
4. After you’ve unpacked your excuses, called them out as lies, and done the dirty work, you get to?empower?yourself by asking one of the most important questions you can:?“If I do ____________, what could go right?”??
5. Fill up a full page of all the things that could go right. Don't hold back. Think big; it's free!
6. Hang your “What Could Go Right” list somewhere you can see it daily to remind you what you are chasing when the lies start getting loud again.