Are you bursting inside to walk towards your dreams or goals. Is there that one thing you can’t stop thinking about doing with your life? Does your face light up each time you talk to anyone about it?

Do you shut down when thinking about taking action towards that goal? Do you wonder how people will accept your idea? Do you fear others will talk you out of pursuing your dreams?

We all struggle with seeking permission to pursue our ideas. We seek the approval of others. We long for someone else to tell us what and how we should do something. If there is one lesson I’ve learned regarding pursuing anything in life it is this:

To give myself permission to take action.

Here is the thing. We all get sidelined into taking our ques from everyone around us. We give life to the perceived expectation of others and we stop. Sometimes we die inside – the life is literally choked out by the expectations of others. What will they think? Will they think differently of me? Will I look silly to them? How will this effect my relationship with them? We have made up questions in our mind and have already assumed an answer to the very question that does not exist. Now that’s silly.

Yet, we crave the approval of others. We are consumed with pleasing those around us. And quite honestly this all comes down to us. This comes down to our pride and our perception of ourselves. Never wanting to appear broken or vulnerable. Always wanting to be in control and look the part so others will accept us. We must own this. We must acknowledge the fact that society, peers, family and even close friends have inundated us with too many expectations – expectations that we can never meet and we freeze for fear of self-sabotage.

What are you not giving yourself permission to do?

To rest when you need?
To write a book?
To travel the world?
To start a bible study?
To take time for yourself?
To be joyful when things seem sad?
To simplify your life?
To forgive yourself?
To embark on a new career?

But I ask us all today. Who’s approval are we really seeking? Who holds the ultimate applause for us in this show of life? If we are seeking the approval of others; each and every moment of our day will be spent giving ourselves away to their cause, their purpose and their expectation of us.

What if the approval we seek has been granted and only awaits our willingness to accept it.

We are equipped and created to create. We are individuals created in the image of the most amazingly awe-inspiring Creator. We are built in a way to bring glory to Him in all we say and do. Scrambling our lives away to please and meet the expectations of everyone else is not His plan for us.

So today. Rest in knowing that He approves of you. He is cheering you on. Now go ahead and give yourself permission to take that step of action. Walk into that place that makes your heart sing. Walk towards the thing you can’t stop thinking about and take the time you need to fulfill the purpose you’ve been called to. Permission granted.

Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”