Positive Results by Sabrina

It’s not about the “when I x, I’ll feel y.” It’s about giving yourself permission to do what you want to do, now. 

When we’re young, we need permission from our elders to ‘play’, to make friends with strangers, to buy the items that we want. Are you still waiting for permission to do those things? Who is supposed to grant you that permission now?

Do you need to work it into your budget? Do you need to work it into your schedule? Do you need to discuss it with your partner, schedule a babysitter, schedule time off? How do we help you remove the guilt you feel for doing certain things? 

Who will you be in a year if you give yourself permission to do what you want and need to do? Who will you be if you do not?

I had the pleasure of attending so many awesome classes, reading empowering books and listening to empowering podcasts during my years in direct sales. This is a practice that I give myself permission to continue because I see the difference it makes in my life. I’ve made a point to continually educate myself and keep filling my brain with positivity to offset the negativity that surrounds us every day. Yes, I’ve been accused of having my head in the clouds and have worked to learn the boundaries of toxic positivity. Through therapy for myself and my children, I’ve learned many different types of mental health struggles, symptoms, coping mechanisms and healthy skills. I actively work to integrate this knowledge into my daily life. We’ve seen some truly dark days and I have to work actively to combat that darkness so that I am not consumed by it.

During my years in direct sales, we had one Leader who taught a class filled with so many pearls of wisdom that I wish I could carry them around in my pocket and pass them out regularly. One of the messages that I hold onto reminds us as women and mothers not to continually put ourselves last. You see memes daily about mom’s who go to the store to buy themselves something new, only to find something that their children or partners need. They spend their budgeted money on their family and walk away without anything new for themselves. These memes make light of this decision but in reality it’s not a healthy point of view if it continues regularly. That mom cycles through the same routine, seldom taking care of herself, until the day that she is so overwhelmed by the self neglect that she breaks. Who does that benefit? NO ONE! 

You have permission to put yourself first. 

That same Leader reminds us that one day your children may be picking out your retirement home, for example, and they are going to have the same point of reference that you used in the store. If you always put your children first, they’re going to put themselves first when they weigh their budget and life priorities, and pick your home. Does that paint a hopeful picture for you?

One of our most important jobs is to raise our children to be strong, healthy, successful adults, right? When they grow up and leave the house, what will you be left with? Did you continue to invest in yourself, your friendships, your relationships and your family? Did you teach them to take care of themselves as well, or sacrifice for everyone around them?

When you look at your calendar for the upcoming month, do you look forward to the events you have planned? Does your calendar fill you with hope and pride for who you will be in a year? Is it blank? Is it filled with hours and days that you dread? 

You have permission to change it. 

Schedule fun. Schedule growth. Schedule love. Schedule the things that make you smile. 

You have permission to be happy.