5 Permissions for Emotional Growth

Although it might seem contradictory, the most valuable permissions that you should have on your mind are the ones you give yourself. Everything else should be secondary.

Reviewed and approved by psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Written by Valeria Sabater

Last update: 27 May, 2022

Let’s talk about emotional permissions. It’s possible that you’ve never heard about them before. It’s not something that you learn at school, but some people claim that they are important for our emotional growth.

Emotional permissions are important ingredients for having a happy, balanced life. They are made up of freedoms and emotions that can heal you during difficult times.

Something that we all know is that most of the time, people focus on their outer existence. You care about getting along with other people. It’s better when you offer the best of yourself for the benefit of those around you.

But why not start now to focus your gaze inward? Believe it or not, this is how you could have a true awakening. Looking inwardly may enable you to be more free on the outside.

Today we’ll be suggesting that you discover five permissions you can give yourself to promote personal growth. Start by implementing them today. In fact, all you need are two things to achieve this:

Courage, and the desire to be happy.

5 permissions for your emotional growth

We get permission at work to go to the doctor or to resolve bureaucratic issues. Sometimes you allow yourself simple whims: hanging out with friends, buying a book, getting a new dress, going for a walk late in the day…

And so what are these “permissions of happiness”? When was the last time that you said to yourself “I’m going to be happy?” We know that it’s not easy, and that it’s hard to break free from your obligations, in order to be able to do whatever you want.

The key, however, is balance in giving yourself permission to be happy in whatever you do. Pay attention to these five key points for emotional growth.

1. I give myself permission to be who I am and I won’t change for anyone

You might be surprised, but people very often change due to their outside influences. Sometimes a relationship can be stormy and complicated, and, because of this, it can limit one’s own personality.

• You stop being who you are and become someone else’s shadow. You forget to take care of yourself, and eventually start living with more fear than hope.
• Don’t change for anyone. Defend who you are, your values, your inner beauty. Give yourself the permission to celebrate who you are without having to make sacrifices.

2. I give myself permission to feel and understand me

This happens a lot: you feel frustrated, angry with someone else, hurt, or disappointed. Instead of untangling this emotional knot to arrive at a solution, you keep it in the depths of your heart, festering.

• We pretend that nothing happens, “everything is fine” when, in fact, it is not.
• Don’t do this – give yourself the permission to feel, to understand, to resolve, and to heal. Having emotional freedom is imperative to building your happiness.
• On the other hand, understand the fact that what you feel and knowing how that can affect certain things and people allows you to know yourself much better. Give yourself permission to delve into your darkest places, bring them into the light, and heal them.

No doubt something will force you to face many of your fears and those unresolved issues that have been dragged out into the present.

3. Give yourself permission to seek what you want

Before you start looking for what will make you happy, you must be clear about what you want. It’s strange, but so many people live their lives feeling that emptiness inside because they don’t know their priorities or what they need to be happy.

• Give yourself permission to find inner peace. Don’t let anyone make you bitter or force you to do things that don’t fit with your values.
• Give yourself permission to make every day worthwhile. No matter the fact that you have obligations and duties: give yourself an hour or two to yourself to do what you want.
• Set goals you want to fight for; have short and long-term dreams.
• Focus your life so that every time you open your eyes in the morning your dreams push you to keep going, and to fight.

4. Always maintain the right to your own opinion, grant yourself the right to express yourself

Don’t be silent – practice sincerity every day of your life. Only in this way will you feel that emotional growth and balance where what you think and feel correspond with what you do and say.

5. Give yourself permission to close some chapters

Ending cycles and closing chapters is not exactly easy. In fact there are many people who refuse to do so. They think it’s better to remain silent, to endure and stay in a dynamic that makes them unhappy because it’s all they have. However, this is not all healthy.

Instead, give yourself the permission to be happy and able to leave what doesn’t support you, what hurts you, and what doesn’t fit.

Close chapters and say yes to the changes that are coming for the better because they’ll bring you new opportunities for happiness. Choose to grow from the inside in order to be happy on the outside.

Allow yourself these five permissions for personal emotional growth and start today!