Guest post by by Cass Mullane, Accountability Coach, Right-Brain Business Plan® Licensed Facilitator, Prosper Creatively, LLC

We all have moments when we hold back. Sometimes it’s holding back from doing a big or important thing. Sometimes it’s because it feels like ego and we don’t want to stand out. Sometimes it’s ignoring the little voice that says, “Go ahead, be curious.” The problem is repeating this behavior over time makes it a bad habit that can result in keeping us from growing into our wonderful, delicious selves.

Permission Granted!

Sometimes we just need simple permission to do the things we need to do to make ourselves happy, to get unstuck, to dream, and to grow. Since 2008, I’ve created handmade permission slips to give to clients, colleagues, friends (and myself!).

I started out with permission slips relating specifically to my artist friends. They were made out of hang tags that I inked, painted, printed and tied with fibers.

They said things like:

You are hereby granted permission to:

1. Call Yourself An Artist
2. Embellish
3. Be Fearless
4. Break The Rules
5. Try Something New
6. Pillage The Dragon’s Hoard (this means actually using the special stuff you’ve been carefully protecting!)

Then, they morphed into customized hang tags for clients and colleagues. People loved them and I made it a practice to create at least one for almost every client. They said a variety of things such as:

You are hereby granted permission to:

1. Own Your Money
2. ROAR!
3. Know You Are Enough
4. Pick Your Perfect Clients
5. Dream YOUR Dreams
6. Take Care of Yourself First
7. Reclaim Your Joy
8. Celebrate!
9. Have FUN!

• Smile the Big Smile
• Wink
• Go After The BIG Stuff!

I keep a supply of them handy and just fill in the appropriate words for a given situation. Sometimes they’re fully decorated, sometimes they’re done spur of the moment and handed over immediately.

The current permission slip on my own wall is “You Are Hereby Granted Permission to Use the Good Stuff” and it relates to me tapping into what’s so good about me and bringing that to the forefront as often as possible.

So, write yourself a permission slip and tap into your delicious, juicy self! Then write one for at least two other people so they can also share the joy.

P.S. I realized, when writing this post, that I had not written any permission slips in a while… I hereby grant myself permission to write a plethora of permission slips by the end of the year. Would you like one? Just let me know!

Cass Mullane is an artist with an MBA. Cass’ calm, comfortable approach consistently yields positive results for clients. Her business and personal coaching practice, www.ProsperCreatively.com, specializes in delivering solid left brain business skills to right brainers and creatives in a fun, visual way. She’s a best selling author, textile and mixed media artist and creator of the Cool Stuff Jar™ coaching program. You can also visit Cass on Facebook!