We all know nothing comes easy, this includes our happiness.

More often than not you are your biggest obstacle when it comes to this aspect of your life. Identifying this is step number 1. You need to understand, NO ONE WILL GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO BE HAPPY. You have to give it to yourself.

Choosing happiness is a choice you have to make yet you find yourself waiting unnecessarily for permission. Who is going to give it to you? Permission is approval, approval from someone. Simple as it may seem, it is what is keeping you from your happiness.

So as a reminder. Know that no one can make you happy, no one can coerce you into being happy. That permission, that approval comes from you and no one else. So why not give it to yourself?

Permission to be you

Perfection is overrated because we all know no one is perfect. If happiness is what you want, you need to embrace yourself, flaws and all. Understand that life is what it is because of the mistakes, the lows and the moments we never want anyone to know about. It is up to you to make the best of the great times, the highs and the moments you feel like you are on top of the world. Do not let the pursuit of perfection steal your joy.

Permission to accept

Permission to accept means you are allowing yourself to take in the good things in your life that are going well for you. It may not be what you planned but if it’s positive, we’ll take it. Let’s celebrate it and be happy about it. Happiness being a state of the mind is not always a state of being. Harmonising what is thought, said, and done is the achievement of happiness. It starts with the thought to accept.

Permission to take chances

Welcoming risks that take you to the edge of your comfort zone may be more rewarding than you may think. We do not always get the chances we want so when that happens why not make the best out of lemons and welcome those things we wouldn’t normally do. When you take a risk the rewards are just so much better. Do not rob yourself because you fear the unknown.

Permission to choose

Out of fear of being labeled ‘selfish’, we tend to shy away from choosing ourselves. We end up in a cycle of ‘selfless acts’ (which I wholly support to an extent) and forget ourselves in the process. Sometimes, put yourself first. Think about what’s best for you and do that. Choose happiness, it’s a conscious decision.

Permission to be adventurous

Routine births boredom. If you tired of going through the same motions everyday. Tired of feeling like you are watching your life from somewhere else. It starts with you. Give yourself permission to do something different and break the routine. It might not produce the best result the first time around but do it anyway. If you don’t try you’ll never know what you are cutting yourself away from.

Permission to act

Choose to take the initiative of being a happy person. Unlike popular opinion happiness is not an in born thing. True happiness comes from proactively seeking happiness. Happy people do not have the best things, they choose to make the best of things.

Permission to control emotions

Your emotions make a big part of you as a person but every now and then they get the best of us. When they do, understand that they are a part of who you are but are not WHO you are. Stay positive and think positive. If you don’t they will take over. Counter those lows with positivity. Surround yourself with things and people that make you happy.

So whose permission are you waiting for? Choose you, free yourself and hand the permission to yourself. Starting today, give yourself a chance.