The Act of Allowing
Hello friends! I'm hoping that this finds you all exceptionally well <3
The past week offline has been full of revelations, renewed energies, and a whole lot of creative freedom and inspiration flooding in. Being able to simply sit or dilly-dally in daydreams for the first time in a long, long while has been met with a sense of both nostalgia and utter freshness.
It is a bit funny and ironic, I think, that so many of us often wish for more slowness in our lives. More rest, more relaxation. Less being worried, and more actually just *being*. And yet, simultaeneously, it feels as if there is an odd, societal, subconscious pressure to always remain busy. Busy is good! Having a full schedule is the epitome of success. Never mind spending time alone--how about always spending time with family, friends, or co-workers instead? Moving constantly from this place to that, until at the end of the day, we are in bed, exhausted, and wondering where exactly did all of our precious time and energy go?
Or maybe it's something of the opposite. Perhaps you *have* made the time, implemented the adjustments to allow yourself a bit of freedom away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. And yet, once you do have both time and space, there's an anxious sensation that comes creeping in: now that you have all of this time... what exactly are you supposed to do with it? How do you spend quality time alone? When there's nothing to distract you and no work to be done, what exactly is left behind?
What exactly has become of... you?
I've been finding that before any of these questions can even begin to be answered, when I'm looking at the root of things, it seems to be that a major cause of such multi-layered distress (at least for me), comes from a place of tight, clustered friction. While we cling tightly to what we might think is the best use of our energy and our time, we simply have forgotten the importance of giving ourselves the permission to allow.
Even just writing those words feels powerful. Maybe if you have a moment or two today, you can also gift yourself a similar mini liberation--grab a pen and paper and write, "I give myself permission to allow."
But what exactly does this mean, to allow? Allow what, really? Allow oneself to lay in bed all day watching TikToks? Allow oneself to cry in bed for nights on end?
Rather than focus on the details of the present situation, or even dare to go so far as to begin finding solutions, it is pertinent to know that allowing is itself an act of self-love. Of self-care.
It is simply allowing oneself to just... be.
To drop judgement, pressure, or worry is not an easy thing, but I think when we stop frantically looking towards the next moment and the moment after that, we are gifting ourselves the unbelievable, immense power of allowing ourselves to just exist within the circumstances that surround us. And then, we can begin to hold still--just for a moment--and take a look around. Wow, I'm feeling jittery, maybe I should take a break. Phew, I have accomplished so much already today.
The sun on my face actually feels incredible.
Because it is undeniable, the fact that many of us desire to live slowly, intentionally, mindfully--we want to live dream lives that feel so far away and foreign in the distant, distant future. And yet, what if I told you that you can already access that calm, that peace, what a so-called "new life" would give you--what if I told you that you could already have that? Right here, and right now?
All by simply allowing?
It feels counterintuitive, and yet somehow also so powerful and innate at the same time.
Society and age and time have all constructed new ideals of productivity, worth, and value--and it is true, that most of us already recognize their evils and how terrifyingly detrimental they all can be to our lives.
And yet the idea that sells--of wellness, rest, and relaxation being something one must strive towards and "attain," whether through monetary or external means, in of itself defeats the whole point of us wanting more peace and quiet in the first place.
All of it seemingly to distract us from the truth that when we need a place to really, actually rest, all one needs to do is sit with oneself and simply--allow.
Because there is something beautiful, with just allowing ourselves to be. To allow whatever needs attention within us to make its case. To allow ourselves time to look around and notice all the tiny things that make up life that we never give the time of day.
To allow the gratitude and joy of being here, in this moment, breathing, alive, to fill our existence and overtake any and everything else.
And so, my friends, today I shall leave you with a question, and one question only:
Just for today, can you give yourself permission to allow?