Write Your Own Permission Slip

A few weeks ago, someone came to me for advice, asking my opinion on whether she should apply for a job or not. We talked through the details of her current job and the potential job. I told her, “The best time to apply for a job is when you already have one,” and it’s true. When you already have a job, you're not desperate. You have an income. You may even have benefits. You might not be satisfied in your current role, and you might even want to get out of a toxic environment, but you still have a place to punch in. For this person, there is not a terrible workplace that she wants to get out of, so that’s even better.  I encouraged her to think about it, to make an honest-to-goodness, on-paper Pro/Con list with her husband, and then apply if she felt so led. And if she gets an interview, great. If not, also great. If she gets an offer, great. If she doesn’t, also great. 

I had no idea if my advice was helpful or not, until today. This person reached back out to me, thanking me for walking her through the thought process, and she told me she decided to submit her application. But, here’s what stood out to me: she said, “You gave voice to the thoughts I was already having, and it was helpful to hear them out loud.”

Now, I could walk away from that conversation patting myself on the back for being so wise and all, but instead, I felt even more validated in my determination to listen to my inner voice, that voice that comes from sitting in stillness with the Universe. We each have this voice, the voice of our deep inner knowing. This person already knew what she wanted to do; she was seeking a permission slip from me. And that’s OK. Sometimes, we need permission slips, and I’m happy to sign them for other people. But, I am even more determined to follow my own intuition and sign my own damn permission slips. 

At the risk of telling you what to do, maybe it’s time for you to stop seeking validation from outside sources, too. I mean, if you still need it, cool, But, maybe – just maybe – you can start writing your own permission slips, too.