The Permission Slip
Because "pushing through" is the lie we were sold in the 90s.
The context: You’ve spent decades being the "reliable one." You built things. You managed the chaos. You navigated the analog-to-digital shift and the 60-hour work weeks. But today, the engine isn't turning over. Maybe it's a flare-up, maybe it's the weight of grief, or maybe you’re just done.
The truth: The 80s offered many ambitious films from corporate climb stories like Wall Street, Working Girl, and even the Secret of My Success. Heck, even The Karate Kid had to fight tooth and nail just to earn some respect. These films shaped our dreams in business and in everyday life. In our generation, we were taught that if you weren’t "crushing it," you were failing. But look at where that got us. The nervous system doesn't care about your quarterly goals. It cares about safety. And right now, your body is telling you that the safest, most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing.
The Permission: Recently, on a call with my sister, she told me I have ‘permission’ to stay home and not do the thing if I wasn’t up for it. It was so simple and so liberating! Yes, we’re all adults.
So now I’m giving you—and I’m giving myself—permission to:
• Close the 42 open tabs. They will still be there tomorrow, and the world won't stop spinning if they stay unread.
• Ignore the "Urgent" Slack. Most things labeled "urgent" are just someone else's inability to plan. It can wait.
• Let the laundry stay in the dryer. Or on the floor. Or wherever it is.
• Stop apologizing for your capacity. You aren't a broken machine; you are a human being in a season of winter.
What to do right now:
1. Lower your shoulders. (Seriously, they’re probably up by your ears).
2. Hydrate. Not caffeine. Water.
3. Step away from the glowing rectangle. Go look at a tree, a pet, or a wall.
4. Trust the work you’ve already done. You’ve built enough momentum to survive one quiet Tuesday.
The business will not collapse because you took a nap. The brand will not vanish because you went offline.
Rest is not a reward for finished work. It is the requirement for a lived life.
Go lay down.
