Jun 25 2009
Permission or Pressure: Which one do you choose?
During this morning’s conversation with God I asked him why he was always so accepting of me and giving me permission to feel how I feel no matter how much I don’t like how I feel and he didn’t even have to answer me directly. In my frustration about his acceptance – can you believe I was frustrated by being accepted?! – I was venting about it and realized that if he scolded me for where I was at and told me that I have to do x, y, or z, that then I would totally rebel against him.
It was such an eye opener and all of a sudden I had a deeper understanding why giving myself permission is so much more powerful than pressuring myself into moving forward.
You see, I tend to do that: pressure myself relentlessly.
But, whenever I’m connecting with God he doesn’t do that to me. Instead he continually tells me, “That’s okay.” Even when I’m like, “I feel like such a failure!” he always responds with, “That’s okay.”
And this morning I was fed up. I asked, “How is that okay? How is it okay that I feel uninspired? Can’t you just force me to stay inspired?”
And that’s when it hit me! It really wouldn’t work if God continually told me that I’m not okay and forced me to take action.
So, if God is smart enough to know that force doesn’t work, then why am I continually trying to force myself?
You know, it’s such a human thing to force and try. That’s really not what I should focus on here. It would be way more powerful for me to make a commitment to follow God’s lead, give myself permission, and embrace myself along the way.
So today as I begin my day I am willing to commit to notice whenever I’m pressuring myself, to let it go, and to give myself permission to be where I’m at. And you know what? I feel more inspired now than I have in weeks!
What about you? Which path will you choose? Pressuring yourself into action? Or accepting yourself into it? I’d love to hear your take. Please post your thoughts, fears, and insights.
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